Usain Bolt of Jamaica gestures beside a timing borad after setting a new world record with a time of 9.72 seconds during the men's 100m race at the Reebok Grand Prix athletics meet in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2008. (Xinhua/Hou Jun) Photo Gallery>>>

Usain Bolt of Jamaica stands beside a timing board after setting a new world record with a time of 9.72 seconds during the men's 100m race at the Reebok Grand Prix athletics meet in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2008. (Xinhua/Hou Jun) Photo Gallery>>>

Evolution of men's 100m world records

    10.6 seconds, Donald Lippincott, United States, July 6, 1912

    10.4, Charles Paddock, United States, April 23, 1921

    10.3, Percy Williams, Canada, August 9, 1930

    10.2, Jesse Owens, United States, June 20, 1936

    10.1, Willie Williams, United States, August 3, 1956

    10.0, Armin Hary, West Germany, June 21, 1960

    9.99, Jim Hines, United States, June 20, 1968

    9.95 (electronic), Jim Hines, October 14, 1968

    9.93, Calvin Smith, United States, July 3, 1983

    9.92, Carl Lewis, United States, September 24, 1988

    9.90, Leroy Burrell, United States, June 14, 1991

    9.86, Carl Lewis, United States, August 25, 1991

    9.85, Leroy Burrell, United States, July 6, 1994

    9.84, Donovan Bailey, Canada, July 27, 1996

    9.79, Maurice Greene, United States, June 16, 1999

    9.77, Asafa Powell, Jamaica, June 14, 2005

    9.77, Justin Gatlin, United States, May 12, 2006

    9.77, Asafa Powell, Jamaica, June 11, 2006

    9.74, Asafa Powell, Jamaica, September 9, 2007

    9.72, Usain Bolt, Jamaica, May 31, 2008