The Top 5 Sprinters Ever – Can Gatlin upset the All-time Rankings in Beijing World Championships?
Powell is a former WR holder in the 100m, having set times of 9.77s and 9.74s between June 2005 and May 2008. His PB of 9.72s was set in Lausanne in 2008, and makes him the 4th fastest man ever in the event. Despite his record breaking achievements, the 32-year old is yet to win an individual Olympic medal, finishing 5th in 2004 and 2008 and 8th after injuring his groin during the race in 2012.
He won Bronze twice at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships and is yet to hit GOLD at the worlds. Powell withdrew from the 2013 World Championships after testing positive for the drug, oxilofrine. He was meant to be suspended for 18 months but the suspension was reduced to 6 months after he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Powell has enjoyed a fantastic season, winning the Jamaican Trials in 9.84s. He is currently No.2 on the IAAF Top List for 2015 with an SB of 9.81s, which he ran at the Paris Diamond League. He recently clocked the 90th legal sub-10s of his career and the seventh so far this season at the Gala Dei Castelli meet in Switzerland.
Powell has been accused of not living up to expectation at major championships, and this may be his last opportunity to prove his critics wrong. His aim is to beat Gatlin to the world title but the top spot will not be given to him on a platter of gold. Hopefully, he will maintain this form up till the Olympics next year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NybfaxDq_wU
