Over the years, many female athletes have redefined the limits of speed in the women’s 100m, dropping splendid times and getting the recognition they deserve through that.
The list of the greatest female athletes keeps changing, but no female athlete of this time has gotten to the heights of breaking Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record.
The late American remains on top of the list when it comes to the greatest female athletes, and despite her demise, her impact is felt to date.
Several women have also redefined sprinting, and in this article, Pulse Sports Kenya will look at seven of the greatest female 100m sprinters in history whose legacies continue to inspire the masses.
1) Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)
The late Florence Griffith-Joyner holds the fastest time over the 100m, thanks to her personal best time of 10.49 seconds that was set at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988.
She won the Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay in 1988 and also claimed the silver medal in the 4x400m relay.
Aside from having the world record in the 100m, Florence Griffith-Joyner also holds the record in the 200m, having clocked an impressive 21.34 seconds to settle for the win.
She undisputedly changed the face of women’s sprinting forever with her world record time in the 100m, remaining unchallenged.
Her performances on the track were more than just races, and while questions have lingered around the legitimacy of her record due to wind readings and a lack of drug testing transparency in her era, her impact on the sport is felt to date.
2) Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has a personal best time of 10.60 seconds in the 100m, a time she set at the 2021 Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne.
She won Olympic gold medals in the 100m at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2012 London Olympics and is also a five-time world champion in the 100m.
Due to her impact in the sport, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, affectionately nicknamed the “Pocket Rocket,” is widely regarded as one of the most consistent and accomplished sprinters in history.
With a career spanning more than 15 years, her performance on the track has earned her a series of medals at the World Championships and Olympic Games.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues to reinvent herself multiple times, including after childbirth in 2017, with her ability to return to the sport with even more power, making her a symbol of resilience and longevity.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues to challenge the limits of age in elite sprinting, proving that excellence has no expiration date.
3) Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica)
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Elaine Thompson-Herah is the fastest woman alive, with her personal best time of 10.54 seconds in the 100m.
The Jamaican has also won multiple Olympic gold medals, including securing a double in the 100m and 200m at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
With her Olympic achievements, she became the first woman to complete the 100m- 200m Olympic double at two consecutive Games.
Injuries have slowed her down in the recent past, but Elaine Thompson-Herah remains one of the greatest sprinters in history.
Despite injuries interrupting some of her seasons, her peak performances have been nothing short of historic. Thompson-Herah’s Tokyo triumph marked one of the greatest individual Olympic performances of all time.
4) Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith (Ivory Coast)
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Africa’s fastest woman, Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith, has a personal best time of 10.72 seconds she clocked at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco.
Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith has constantly represented the Ivory Coast on the global stage and delivered world-class performances.
Known for her impeccable form and composure under pressure, she is one of Africa’s most successful female sprinters and a role model for athletes across the continent.
Her rise in the global sprinting scene is a testament that Africans can also be great sprinters. Despite several near-miss podium finishes at global championships, Ta Lou’s influence goes far beyond medals.
Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith has placed African sprinting on the map and continues to pave the way for future generations.
5) Sha’Carri Richardson (USA)
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Sha’Carri Richardson is slowly emerging as one of the greatest sprinters in the world, having a personal best time of 10.65 seconds that she set at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The American sprint queen achieved the feat while winning the 100m world title in the Hungarian capital. Sha’Carri Richardson also claimed the silver medal in the women’s 100m and anchored Team USA’s 4x100m relay team to gold at the Paris Olympic Games.
She burst into the global scene with a bold personality and blistering speed and has marked a new chapter in American sprinting dominance.
Despite facing adversity both on and off the track, she bounced back in 2023 and proved she has the mental toughness to match her raw talent. For Sha’Carri Richardson, the best is yet to come, and the world is watching with eager anticipation.
6) Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jamaica)
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Veronica Campbell-Brown has a personal best time of 10.76 seconds that she set at the 2011 Golden Spike Ostrava.
The Jamaican sprint legend has won multiple Olympic medals, including gold in the 200m in 2004 and 2008. Her career longevity and versatility have made her one of Jamaica’s most celebrated athletes.
Veronica Campbell-Brown helped shape Jamaica’s sprinting powerhouse, and her grace under pressure and ability to peak during championship seasons set her apart from many of her peers.
7) Carmelita Jeter
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Carmelita Jeter has a personal best time of 10.64 seconds in the 100m, a time she set in 2009. She qualifies to be in the list, having won several medals at the Olympic Games and the World Championships over the distance.
Nicknamed ‘The Jet,’ she carved out a legacy as one of the fastest women in history, with her personal best time over the distance placing her among the top five all-time fastest in the 100m.
Carmelita Jeter was undeniably a powerful sprinter and was a key figure in the US women’s 4x100m relay team that smashed the world record at the 2012 London Olympic Games, clocking an astonishing 40.82 seconds.
At the 2011 World Championships, she captured gold in the 100m to solidify her place among sprinting royalty. She also battled injuries and setbacks before getting to the top level.
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