On this day in Athens, Greece, 14 June 2005, Asafa Powell set a new world 100m record.

Powell clocked 9.77 seconds in Olympic Stadium to beat Tim Montgomery’s record of 9.78 set in Paris in 2002.

A year earlier at the Olympic Games, Powell finished fifth in 9.94s.

“I knew I could break the world record and I am very happy I succeeded,” he said after the race.

In an Observer story, published on the 15th anniversary, Powell said: “Fifteen years ago seems like a very long time, but when you manage to break the world record in the 100 metres it’s something you can’t forget, it sticks with you for a lifetime.”

Powell remembered the night before breaking the world record he was “up eating ice cream and just idling around.”


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3 COMMENTS

  1. Junior Q. Crossley 9.7 is not normal for elite athletes these days though. 9.7 is fast as hell! Elite athletes are all who run below 10 seconds. 9.7 is a very special group. And these days… only Christian Coleman runs 9.7

  2. Crazy how 9.7-9.8 is normal for elite athletes these days 🔥 would love to see Bolt, Powell, Blake in their primes running today. Hopefully Blake can rekindle some of his form next year

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