Usain Bolt's 'extraordinary' world record defied nature, say scientists

Scientists yesterday said Usain Bolt performed a feat of biomechanics when he ran 100m in a record 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

Crossing the line in a time that is still a world record meant Bolt had to muster "truly extraordinary" power and energy to overcome exceptional drag, they said.

Taking into account the altitude of the Berlin track, the temperature at the time of the race and the resistance caused by Bolt's 1.95-metre 94-kilo frame, the researchers calculated he had a drag coefficient of 1.2, which is less aerodynamic than the average human.

Bolt hit peak power after only 0.89 seconds, expending 81.58 kilojoules of energy by the time he finished the race.

But 92.21 per cent of this energy was used to overcome air resistance, according to a paper appearing in the European Journal of Physics. Only 7.79 percent was used to achieve motion.

After 41 strides, he crossed the line at 43.92 kilometres per hour.