Only Four Africans Have Broken the 9.90 Barrier.

Africa has produced some of the fastest sprinters in world athletics, but only four men in history have officially broken the 9.90 seconds barrier in the 100 metres, placing them among the fastest human beings ever recorded.

The achievement represents the highest level of sprint excellence and highlights Africa’s growing influence in global athletics.

Africa’s Elite Sprint Club

Breaking 10 seconds in the 100m is considered one of athletics’ greatest milestones. Going below 9.90 seconds is an even rarer achievement, reserved for only a handful of athletes worldwide.

The four African sprinters who have achieved this feat are:

1. Ferdinand Omanyala – Kenya

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala is Africa’s fastest man and the continent’s biggest sprint star in recent years.

Omanyala made history in 2021 when he ran 9.77 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, setting the African record and becoming the first Kenyan and only the second African athlete to officially break the 9.80 barrier.

His rise has transformed sprinting in Kenya, a country traditionally known for distance running.

2. Akani Simbine – South Africa

South Africa’s Akani Simbine has been one of Africa’s most consistent elite sprinters for more than a decade.

Simbine became the first South African man to run under 9.90 seconds when he clocked 9.89 seconds in 2016.

A multiple Olympic finalist and Commonwealth champion, Simbine has carried South Africa’s sprint hopes on the world stage and remains one of the most respected 100m specialists globally.

3. Letsile Tebogo – Botswana

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo represents the new generation of African sprint talent.

He announced himself internationally as a teenager before becoming one of the world’s biggest athletics stars. Tebogo recorded 9.87 seconds in the 100m, establishing himself among Africa’s elite sprinters.

The Olympic champion has also helped change perceptions of African sprinting, proving that the continent can produce world-class athletes beyond traditional distance events.

4. Christian Coleman – Africa? A Clarification

There are only three African-born male athletes who have officially broken the 9.90 seconds barrier in the 100m:

Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya)
Akani Simbine (South Africa)
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)

Some lists mistakenly include additional names due to nationality changes, heritage or unofficial timing records, but the official African sprint record books recognise these three as the continent’s sub-9.90 athletes.

Africa’s Sprint Future

The growth of African sprinting is accelerating as more countries invest in athletics development, coaching and elite training programmes.

Kenya, Botswana and South Africa are leading the charge, but young athletes across Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and other nations are also emerging.

For decades, Africa dominated long-distance running. Today, a new generation is proving that the continent can also compete for global supremacy in explosive sprint events.

The race for Africa’s next 9.90-second sprinter has already begun.