The Greatest Sprinters of All-Time - Moses Goldman

1.   Usain Bolt (Jamaica)
2.   Ben Johnson (Canada)
3.   Jesse Owens (U.S.A)
4.   Michael Johnson (US.A)
5.   James Hines (U.S.A)
6.   Tyson Gay (U.S.A)
7.   Johan Blake (Jamaica)
8.   Asafa Powell (Jamaica)
9.   Justin Gatlin (U.S.A)
10. Carl Lewis (U.S.A)
11. Nesta Carter (Jamaica)
12. Linford Christie (Great Britain)
13. Harold Abrahams (Great Britain)
14. Donovan Bailey (Canada)
15. Donald Quarry (Jamaica)
16. Pietro Mennea (Italy)
17. Maurice Greene (U.S.A)
18. Dennis Mitchell (U.S.A)
19. Ronaldo Nehemiah (U.S.A)
20. Ato Boldon (Trinidad and Tobago)
21. Frankie Fredericks (Nambia)
22. Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago)
23. Leroy Burrell (U.S.A)
24. Bruny Surin (Canada)
25. Mike Rodgers (U.S.A)
26. Ryan Bailey (U.S.A)
27. Eddie Tolan (U.S.A)
28. Steve Mullings (Jamaica)
29. Tim Montgomery (U.S.A)
30. Jimmy Vicaut (France)

  In 1924 Harold Abrahams (a distant cousin of mine) won the Gold Medal in the 100 metre dash in London, England.  His time was a World Record at 10.6 seconds, and in the early eighties they focused on his ascent in the movie 'Chariots of Fire'.  His being Jewish in that time period was very socially relevant as these were racially turbulent times in Great Britain.  In 1932 an American by the name of Eddie Tolan clocked in during the 100 metre final at 10.3 seconds setting another World Record for this discipline.  However, it was Jesse Owens winning 4 Gold Medals in Germany in 1936 in the face of Nazi Germany that people remember over the 30's.  Owens mark in the 100 metre dash final was 10.3 seconds, on par with Tolan's mark, and for the first time we saw an African-American lead this discipline.  In 1968 (in Mexico City, Mexico) James Hines became the first man to record a sub-10 second time in the 100 metres, posting a time of 9.95 seconds and Pietro Mennea ran the fastest 200 metre race in history clocking in at 19.72 seconds.  In 1976, Donald Quarry dominated the 200 metre final and narrowly lost in the 100 metre final by .01 seconds.  In 1980, American Ronaldo Nehemiah was expected to win both the 60 metre hurdles and the 110 metre hurdles only to be rejected in going to the Olympics (held in Moscow, U.S.S.R) as the U.S.A were engaged in a cold war with the U.S.S.R and refused to attend the Summer Games.
  From 1984 - 1992 most of the sprinters were using anabolic steroids and we saw the times reduce to regular sub-10 second times which is where we stand today.  Athletes are now running the 100 metre dash under 10 seconds with uncommon regularity.  
  When Ben Johnson was nailed for steroid use it was assumed that he was alone in his actions.  The reality was that most (if not all) these competitors (1984-1992) over this time period were NOT steroid free.  At the point of analyzing the correlation of pretty much every professional sport in North America having a steroids problem it leaves this writer wondering why the U.S.A didn't implement a Federal steroids drug ban.  Anabolic steroids were an issue in professional boxing as far back as 1978, when, during the Holmes/Norton fight it was announced on the air that Holmes was juicing up on steroids.  I pay no credence to the steroids issue for this reason.  Double standards were created and precious fallacies were defended.  In my opinion the greatest accomplishment by a sprinter in the 100 metre dash final during the Olympics was the race run by Ben Johnson in 1988 clocking in at 9.78 seconds.  How will history remember the athletes that juiced up from 1978-2005?  Amateur and professional athletes likewise.
  Considering that Donald Quarry is the current Sports Minister of Jamaica there are probably a few more from this list that will eventually be recognized as World Leaders.  Usain Bolt is a tremendous role model to children, Michael Johnson has a wonderful persona, and these athletes are role models WORLDWIDE.