When it comes to speed, humans have always been fascinated by the idea of being the fastest. In sports, this is no different. Sprinting has been one of the oldest and most prestigious disciplines in athletics, with athletes pushing their limits to achieve new records and become champions.
In recent times, there has been a lot of hype around who is the fastest girl in the world. With so many talented female sprinters competing internationally, it’s hard to keep track of who holds the title for being the fastest among them all.
To determine who currently holds this title, we need to look at various factors such as race results, personal bests, and awards won. Additionally, we must also consider other aspects such as age and experience since these can play a significant role in an athlete’s performance.
Throughout history, many female sprinters have held this title at some point in their careers. From legendary runners like Wilma Rudolph and Florence Griffith Joyner to current stars like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah; each athlete brings her unique style and technique to compete for this coveted honor.
This article aims to provide insight into who is currently considered as the fastest girl in the world based on various criteria used by experts worldwide. So let’s dive into their achievements together!
History of Women’s Track and Field
The history of women’s track and field can be traced back to ancient Greece. The first recorded women’s footrace was held at the Olympic Games in 776 B.C., but it wasn’t until much later that women were able to compete in organized athletic events.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were few opportunities for women to participate in sports, let alone compete at a high level. However, this began to change with the rise of the suffragette movement and increased advocacy for gender equality.
In 1928, women’s track and field made its debut at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam. While only five events were offered initially, they included some of today’s most popular track and field events such as the 100-meter dash, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, and high jump.
Over time, more opportunities became available for female athletes in track and field. In 1960 at the Olympic Games held in Rome Italy Women’s middle-distance races started being introduced into competition by having a new event added: The 800 meter run which previously had been limited only to men’s athletics.
Since then there have been numerous memorable moments from female athletes including Wilma Rudolph who won three gold medals at the Rome Olympics despite suffering from polio as a child; Florence Griffith-Joyner (also known as “Flo Jo”), who set world records in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash during her career; Jackie Joyner-Kersee who is considered one of greatest all-around female athletes ever being able to win multiple gold medals across different disciplines like heptathlon or long jump over her impressive career.
Today, women continue to break barriers on both national and international levels. With each new record set, they push the limits of what is possible and inspire future generations of athletes to follow in their footsteps.
World Records in Women’s Track and Field
Track and field is a sport that involves various athletic events, such as running, jumping, throwing and walking. Over the years, women have shown exceptional abilities in track and field events. Many of them have broken world records with their outstanding performances. Here are some of the most significant world records set by women in track and field:
100m Dash
The fastest woman on Earth is Florence Griffith-Joyner from the United States who ran 100 meters in just 10.49 seconds at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
200m Dash
Florence Griffith-Joyner also holds the world record for 200 meters with a time of 21.34 seconds set during those same Olympic Games.
400m Run
The current world record holder for this event is Marita Koch from East Germany who ran it in just 47.60 seconds back on October 6th, 1985.
800m Run
The current record holder for this event is Jarmila Kratochvílová from Czechoslovakia who finished an impressive race with a time of one minute and fifty-three-point twenty-eight seconds (1:53:28) way back on July13th ,1984.
Mile/1500m Run
This prestigious title goes to Svetlana Masterkova from Russia who completed her mile run in four minutes twelve-point fifty-six seconds (4:12:56), setting not just one but two records! One was during Zurich’s Golden League Meeting held August14th ,1996 while another was when she broke down her own previous World Record at Tafisa Games, held on September 23rd in the same year.
100m Hurdles
The fastest woman in the world over the 100-meter hurdles is Kendra Harrison from the United States who ran it in just 12.20 seconds at London’s Müller Anniversary Games on July 22nd, 2016.
400m Hurdles
This record belongs to Yuliya Pechonkina from Russia who completed this event with a time of fifty-two-point thirty-four seconds (52.34) during Tula’s National Meet held back on August8th ,2003. That’s an impressive speed considering that one has to jump over ten barriers while running for nearly three-quarters of a mile!
Pole Vault
The current world record holder for pole vaulting is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia, who cleared an incredible height of five meters and six centimeters (5.06 m or roughly sixteen feet and seven inches) at the Weltklasse Zurich Golden League meeting held on August28th ,2009.
High Jump
The women’s high jump record was set by Stefka Kostadinova from Bulgaria back in August30th ,1987 when she jumped two meters and nine centimeters (2.09 m).
Long Jump
Galina Chistyakova holds this record with her stunning leap of seven meters and fifty-two centimeters (7.52 m), which she achieved during Leningrad’s Spartakiad Championship held on June11th ,1988.
Triple Jump
Inessa Kravets made history when she triple-jumped eighteen metres twenty-one cm(18.21 m) on August 10th,1995 in the World Athletics Championships held at Gothenburg. This record still stands strong today and is yet to be broken.
The Current World Record Holder
The current world record holder for the fastest woman in the world is Florence Griffith-Joyner, also known as Flo Jo. She set the record of 10.49 seconds in the women’s 100-meter dash at the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea.
Flo Jo was born on December 21, 1959, in Los Angeles, California. She began her career as a sprinter while attending Jordan High School and later went on to attend California State University where she continued to excel in track and field events.
She won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles for her performance in the women’s 200-meter dash. Four years later at the Seoul Olympics, she not only broke but shattered her previous personal best time by running an impressive 10.49 seconds to set a new world record.
In addition to her Olympic success, Flo Jo also won several gold medals at various international competitions including the World Championships and Pan American Games throughout her athletic career.
Aside from being an incredible athlete, she was also known for her fashion sense with colorful one-legged racing suits and stylish nails that became iconic symbols of female empowerment within sports. Sadly however her life was cut short when she passed away from an epileptic seizure on September 21st of1998 aged just thirty-eight years old.
Despite this tragedy though Florence Griffith-Joyner remains one of history’s greatest runners who will always be remembered for breaking barriers both on and off-track!
Challenges to the Title
While there is no doubt that Sha’Carri Richardson is an incredibly talented and fast sprinter, her title as the fastest girl in the world has been challenged by some. One of the main challenges comes from Elaine Thompson-Herah, a Jamaican sprinter who won both the 100m and 200m races at the Tokyo Olympics.
Thompson-Herah’s impressive performances have led some to argue that she should hold the title of fastest girl in the world. In fact, she currently holds both Olympic records for those events with times of 10.61 seconds in the 100m and 21.53 seconds in the 200m.
Another challenge to Richardson’s title comes from Dina Asher-Smith, a British sprinter who has also had success on both national and international levels. In particular, Asher-Smith set a new British record in June 2021 when she ran a time of 10.71 seconds in the women’s 100m race at an event in Italy.
Of course, it’s worth noting that comparing athletes across different events or even different times can be difficult due to factors like weather conditions or track quality. Additionally, every athlete brings their own unique strengths and weaknesses to competition.
That being said, it will be interesting to see how these top female sprinters continue to push each other forward as they compete for titles and records around the world. Regardless of who ultimately holds onto the title of fastest girl in the world, there is no denying that all three women are incredibly talented athletes who deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication to their sport.
Up-and-Coming Contenders
As the quest to determine the fastest girl in the world continues, there are a number of young athletes who are making their mark on the track and showing signs of greatness. Here are just a few up-and-coming contenders that could potentially take over as the world’s fastest female:
Briana Williams
This Jamaican sprinter burst onto the scene in 2018 when she won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m races at the World U20 Championships. She followed that up with impressive performances at Diamond League events, earning her a spot on Jamaica’s national team for the 2019 World Championships.
Sydney McLaughlin
While primarily known for her hurdling abilities, American Sydney McLaughlin has been proving herself as a force to be reckoned with in sprints as well. At just 21 years old, she already holds personal best times of 10.89 seconds (100m) and 22.39 seconds (200m).
Dina Asher-Smith
Representing Great Britain, Dina Asher-Smith has been dominating European competitions for several years now. In 2019, she became Britain’s first ever female sprint world champion after winning gold in both the individual 200m race and as part of Britain’s women’s relay team.
Sha’Carri Richardson
At only 19 years old, Sha’Carri Richardson made waves during her freshman year at Louisiana State University by setting multiple records and winning numerous titles. She turned pro shortly thereafter and continued to impress with strong showings at Diamond League meets.
These four athletes represent just a small sample of talented young women who have what it takes to become one day become recognized as “the fastest girl in the world”. With hard work, dedication, and natural talent on their side, the future of the sport is bright.
Conclusion
After analyzing the records and achievements of various female athletes, it is safe to say that Florence Griffith-Joyner holds the title for the fastest girl in the world. With a world record time of 10.49 seconds in the 100m race and an Olympic gold medal to her name, she has set a standard that has yet to be surpassed.
However, it is important to note that other female athletes have come close to breaking her record. Carmelita Jeter and Elaine Thompson-Herah both hold impressive times of 10.64 seconds and 10.61 seconds respectively, proving that there are many talented women capable of achieving greatness on the track.
It is also worth mentioning that speed alone does not make a great athlete. Many factors such as training routine, nutrition plan, mental toughness, and determination contribute towards success in sports.
In conclusion, while Florence Griffith-Joyner may hold the title for now, there will always be new contenders vying for her spot as the fastest girl in the world. It’s exciting to see what future generations of female athletes will achieve on this global stage!