Sprint Running

Sprinting is running as fast as you can for a short distance. Sprint races are very short but exciting. The most famous sprints are 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. The winner can be decided by less than a second.

Getting Ready

Sprinters start by crouching down in starting blocks. When they hear a gun go off, they burst forward. They pump their arms and legs as fast as they can. A race can be over in under 10 seconds.

Sprinters burst out of the blocks at the start of a race.
Sprinters burst out of the blocks at the start of a race. (Pierre-Yves Beaudouin / Wikimedia Commons)

Top Sprinters

Top sprinters train for years to be strong and fast. They lift weights and do drills to get quicker. Usain Bolt from Jamaica is the fastest sprinter in history. He ran 100 meters in just 9.58 seconds.

Fun Facts

  • Usain Bolt can run faster than 27 miles per hour.
  • The 100 meter dash is called 'the fastest race on Earth.'
  • Sprinters wear special shoes with spikes on the bottom.

Did You Know?

A cheetah can run almost three times faster than the world's fastest human sprinter.