world's fastest man

English

Noun

world's fastest man (plural world's fastest men)

1. (athletics, slang) the Olympic champion male sprinter in the men's 100-metre dash sprint race athletics track and field event

Usage notes

In the late 1990s, the United States, sports commentator Bob Costas, and the U.S. media disputed that the 1996 champion of the 100m was the world's fastest man, as the U.S. had lost that race, while the U.S. had won the 200m race, where the 200m winning time was less than twice that of the 100m winning time, them "awarding" the title to the 200m champion, U.S.'s Michael Johnson, instead of the 100m champion, Canada's Donovan Bailey. The U.S. returned to the customary according of the title to the 100m champion at the 2000 Olympics.

Coordinate terms

• lord of the rings
• world's fastest woman
• world's greatest athlete