Study predicts Usain Bolt would have run 100m in 9.42 seconds in super spikes

"A new scientific study has predicted that Usain Bolt would have run the 100m in 9.42 seconds in super spikes an astonishing 0.16 faster than his current world record set in 2009. But one man who isn't arguing is the legendary Jamaican himself. Bolt, who is in Tokyo to present the medals for the 100m final at the world athletics championships on Sunday, said he wasn't surprised with the findings. I fully agree with it, he said."

"The study was conducted by Wouter Hoogkamer and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts, who conducted research on the original Nike Vaporfly super shoes in 2016 and have since analysed leading shoes from all the major brands. Hoogkamer and his team were contacted by Puma, who funded a study into what Bolt might have achieved if his size-13 spikes had come armed with bouncy foam and a carbon plate."

"I haven't tried the new shoes, he said. I don't want to pull my hamstrings. But the shoes are clearly good. Bolt has not attended a world championships since he last competed in the 2017 event in London but said he was looking forward to seeing his country's star athletes in action. I think it is more stressful than me watching my fellow Jamaicans run than when I actually competed, he said."

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts modelled Bolt's potential 100m time using data from 15 athletes, complex equations, and analysis of modern sprint spikes. Puma funded modelling that applied bouncy foam and a carbon plate to Bolt's size-13 spikes and estimated a 9.42s time, 0.16s faster than the 2009 world record. Bolt agreed with the estimate, citing Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's improvements with new spikes and saying he probably would have run faster. Bolt said he has not tried the new shoes to avoid hamstring injury and will present medals in Tokyo while watching Jamaican athletes nervously.

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