Usain Bolt Could Lose 100m World Record if World Athletics Approves Rule Change

Usain Bolt could lose his 100m world record if World Athletics approves a controversial rule change.

Ahead of the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, the fastest men in the world will once again attempt to break Bolt's long-standing record.

The men's 100m begins on Saturday with the heats, before the semi-finals and final on Sunday. Kishane Thompson has ran the fastest time in the world this year and enters as the favourite, but Noah Lyles is expected to run him close.

Bolt has held the world record since May 2008, when he clocked 9.72 seconds at a Grand Prix meet in New York.

He lowered his mark at the Beijing Olympics that summer with a time of 9.69 seconds, before he broke it again at the 2009 World Championships, setting the mark of 9.58 seconds.

Now some within athletics believe that Bolt's historic record could be under threat if a 'super track' is approved by World Athletics.

Usain Bolt at the Olympic Games. Image: Ian MacNicol / Contributor via Getty

What is a 'super track'?

According to The Telegraph, the track has been developed at a laboratory near Cambridge by the entrepreneur Alvina Chen.

His company Feldspar has designed the world's first digital 'smart' track, which uses sensors to provide real-time performance data. Most importantly, initial tests have suggested that the surface offers a greater energy return of around 20%.

Chen said: "There is the potential for early nine seconds if not sub nine seconds for a human. We see how running shoes have evolved a lot, training methods and nutrition… but one thing that hasn’t changed pretty much is the track surface – that hasn’t changed for like 60 years, from the 1968 Olympics.

"We believe we are creating the first major advancement.

"Our vision is to have the track become the universal standard all over the world. We have the world’s fastest running surface."

At present, it remains unclear whether World Athletics will authorise the use of the new 'super track' for official competitions.

Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson. Image: Michael Steele / Staff via Getty

Who could break Usain Bolt's record?

Lyles, 28, has a personal best of 9.79 seconds and is one of the fastest men in the world, but is unlikely to make major improvements to his time.

Jamaican Kishane Thompson is more likely to threaten Bolt's record.

The 24-year-old Olympic silver medallist clocked an impressive personal best of 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican trials.

Another name which is generating excitement is the 17-year-old Australian Gout Gout.

He has already run 10.17s, leading many fans to compare him with the legendary Jamaican sprinter.

Although he will not be a contender for the crown in Tokyo, his speed at such a young age suggest he could break Bolt's record in years to come.