The men's 100 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics were held at the Olympic Stadium on August 15 and August 16. The two main contenders for the event were the reigning World Champion Ty
Usain Bolt (center right) wins his first world title in world record time.
10-second barrier
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The 10-second barrier is the physical and psychological barrier of completing the 100-meter sprint in under ten seconds. The achievement is traditionally regarded as the hallmark of a world-class male
2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres
…competition with a season's best of 9.77 seconds (an American record) while Bolt's season's best was 9.79 seconds. Four other competitors had broken the 10-second barrier during the last months before the World Championship: former world record holder Asafa Powell, Olympic finalist Churandy Martina and emerging sprinters…
Asafa Powell broke the 10-second barrier more often than any other sprinter in athletics history—97 times
Jim Hines was the first man to officially break the 10-second barrier