10 fastest 100m women sprinters in the world: From Florence Griffith-Joyner to Sha'Carri Richardson

10 fastest 100m women sprinters in the world

The women's 100m athletics semi-final and final for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be held on August 3 and 4 respectively. USA's Sha'Carri Richardson secured the fourth position in Round 1 while Ivory Coast's Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith took the top spot, clocking 10.87 seconds. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica ended up second with a time of 10.92 seconds. The gold medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Elaine Thompson-Herah is not taking part due to injury while her Jamaican teammate Shericka Jackson announced on July 31 that she would not compete. Over the years, athletes from around the world have set records in the 100-metre category. Let us look at the top 10 women sprinters in 100m in the world.

10. Evelyn Ashford, USA (10.76)

Evelyn Ashford's journey to becoming a legendary sprinter began as a teenager. Discovered by renowned coach Pat Connolly, she quickly rose to prominence, making her Olympic debut at 19. She shattered records, becoming the first American woman to break the 11-second barrier in the 100 meters and the 22-second barrier in the 200 meters. On August 22, 1984, she set a world record of 10.76, a time that would remain at the top of the sprinting charts.

9. Kerron Stewart, Jamaica (10.75)

Kerron Stewart is a retired Jamaican sprinter who specialized in the 100m and 200m dash. Stewart holds one of the fastest non-winning times for the women's 100 meters. In the 2009 World Athletics Championships from Berlin, she ran 10.75 seconds. She last competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games winning a bronze medal in the 100m and a gold medal in the 4 x 100m relay.

8. English Gardner, USA (10.74)

Eastern High School graduate English Gardner ran 10.74 seconds to win the 100-meter dash at the US Olympic Track Trials and locked up her first berth on the United States Olympic track team in 2016. Gardner is a two-time Olympic medalist for the United States as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team who won gold in 2016 and silver in 2021 and a two-time US champion in the 100 meters.

8. Merlene Ottey, Jamaica (10.74)

Jamaican sprinting legend Merlene Ottey completed the 100m race in 10.74 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix finals in Milan in 1996 at the age of 36. She is one of the most famous runners in this category having won 9 Olympic medals.

7. Christine Arron, France (10.73)

Christine Arron secured the 100m gold medal during the 1998 European Championships by finishing the race in 10.73 seconds which was also a European record back then. She also became the then second-fastest ever women’s 100m athlete in the world.

6. Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Cote d'Ivoire (10.72)

Ivorian sprinter Marie Josee Ta Lou took 10.72 seconds to become one of the fastest runners in women’s 100m. She set the record at the Diamond League in Monaco in 2022 where he also broke the African record in the women's 100m.

5. Marion Jones, USA (10.65)

Before she became embroiled in the Balco steroid scandal, Marion Jones was considered to be among the fastest runners. At the 1998 IAAF World Cup in Johannesburg, Jones ran a time of 10.65 seconds, which placed her among the fastest runners ever.

5. Shericka Jackson, Jamaica (10.65)

Shericka Jackson ran 100 meters at the Jamaican championships, finishing in 10.65 seconds. The five-time Olympian is ranked among the best athletes just 0.16 seconds behind world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner.

5. Sha'Carri Richardson (10.65)

With a run of 10.65 seconds, Sha'Carri Richardson secured first place at the World Athletics Championships in Hungary. Sha'Carri Richardson, competing in her first significant international competition, produced an amazing performance.

4. Carmelita Jeter, USA (10.64)

Former US sprinter Carmelita Jeter secured the fourth-best finish after she completed the 100m race at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in 10.64 seconds.

3. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaica (10.60)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce currently secures the third spot on the list due to her 10.60-second finish during the 2021 Lausanne Diamond League meet.

2. Elaine Thompson-Herah, Jamaica (10.54)

Jamaican athlete Elaine Thompson-Herah set a timing of 10.54 seconds in 2021 during the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet to become the second-fastest runner in women’s 100m history. 

1. Florence Griffith-Joyner, USA (10.49)

US sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner is the fastest runner in the world as she registered a world record in women’s 100m race after she clocked 10.49 seconds at the US Olympic Trials in July 1988. She surpassed Evelyn Ashford's record of 10.79 seconds. The record still remains intact.