Christophe Lemaitre 100m 9.92s +2.0 (Video) - Officially the Fastest White Man in History

A few days back I wrote a complete lists of the fastest white men in history and out the lists Christophe Lemaitre was second fastest white man of all-time. I know that Lemaitre has becomes the first white man (Caucasian) to break the 10s barrier in 2010 but there was another guy from non-African descent (non-black) has gone sub10 earlier, Patrick Johnson of Australia with 9.93s in 2003. He achieved the time at age of 31 (and still running at the moment). Nevertheless Johnson is mixed blood (Caucasian father of Ireland + Indigenous Australian (black) mother who died when he was just 18 months old).

Lemaitre ran 9.95s twice in the past a few weeks and is expected to explode during the 2011 World Championships in Deagu next month but he lowered the time to 9.92s +2.0 earlier during the French national championships in Albi on July 29, 2011. His progression to 9.92s marks him as the "fastest white man" or the "fastest man from non-African descent" in history without any doubt now. I reckon none expect he will run that fast one month before the major championships.

Christophe Lemaitre - no doubt the fastest white man alive

But to me it's not really a surprise. Running under the best condition engulfing the stadium ambient (29 degree celsius), no pressure against the local sprinters and then helped by the most favorable tailwinds 2.0m/s (2.1m/s = Illegal), you "should" run faster than expected. Well, scientific studies have shown that advantage of a 2.0m/s tailwinds is about 0.10 seconds !!.

I said that sub10 is no longer "magical barrier" for Lemaitre since it is now a common thing "cracking sub10". At the best shape and form and given the right condition, I think he has chance to break and break his record to 9.8-low or 9.7-high, which would make him the fastest man in Europe, faster than Francis Obikwelu, Linford Christie or anyone else. But to break the world record is perhaps out of reach.

Christophe Lemaitre's 9.92 +2.0 Video from French Nationals 2011



2011 French Nationals: 100m men Final Results (W: +2.0)

1        9.92     NR    Christophe Lemaitre
2        10.07             Jimmy Vicaut
3        10.17             Martial Mbandjock
4        10.29             Yannick Lesourd
5        10.29             Emmanuel Biron
6        10.30             Teddy Tinmar
7        10.32             Ronald Pognon
8        10.50             Pierre-Alexis Pessonneaux