KINGSTON, Jamaica — Usain Bolt, the fastest man of all time, could have run even faster if he had access to PUMA’s current-day innovation, according to a new study by world-renowned researcher, Wouter Hoogkamer and members of the PUMA innovation team.

The study estimates that the Jamaican sprint legend could have run his 100m event in 9.42 seconds — a projected improvement of 0.16 seconds on his existing world record set in Berlin in 2009 — had he worn PUMA’s cutting-edge Forte NITRO™ track spike.

Bolt’s projected finish time of 9.42 seconds would smash his existing world record, cement his legacy as the greatest athlete of all time and would demonstrate PUMA’s role as trailblazers of running innovation.

When presented with research, Usain Bolt said, “That’s real fast! I put a lot of pressure on the spike guys, and throughout the years, we adjusted and did different things. I think in 2012, if I was focused, I would have broken the world record (9.58) in the spikes I was wearing then.”

The full study is set to be published ahead of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025. The research also analysed how the Forte NITRO™ — the spike worn by the reigning world’s fastest woman, Julien Alfred — performed versus a variety of track spikes, including those worn by Bolt in 2009, and how PUMA’s industry-leading NITROFOAM™ ELITE and PWRPLATE improved propulsion.

“This time improvement isn’t just a number, it’s evidence of how PUMA is pioneering the future of fast,” said Romain Girard, vice president of innovation at PUMA.