World's fastest men: Olympians who conquered the 100M sprint

Paris Olympic Games 1924: Harold Abrahams of Great Britain sprinted to victory in 10.6 seconds (AP)

Berlin Olympic Games 1936: American track-and-field star Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, including one for the 100-meter sprint in which he crossed the line in 10.3 seconds.  (AP)

England Olympic games 1948: United States runner Harrison Dillard, nearest to camera, winns the 100 meter sprint crossing the finish line in 10.3 seconds.  (AP)

Rome Olympic Games 1960: Germany's Armin Hary, left, hits the finish line to win the men's 100-meter dash final in 10.2 seconds. 

Tokyo Olympic Games 1964: Bob Hayes of the United States sprinted his way to gold in 10.0 seconds. (AP)

Moscow Olympic Games 1980: Scottish sprinter Allan Wells raced past the finish line from lane 8 in 10.25 seconds to claim his gold.  (AP)

Mexico Olympic Games 1968: United States star Jim Hines, middle, sprinted to victory in 9.95 seconds to secure his gold medal.  (AP)

Los Angeles Olympic Games 1984: Carl Lewis is one of only four United States athletes to win nine gold medals, one of which he earned when he sprinted 100-meters in 9.99 seconds (AP)

United States track and field star Carl Lewis earned another gold medal in 1988 at the Seoul Games when he sprinted across the finish line in 9.92 seconds. Here is pictured at the 1996 Atlanta Games.  (AP)

Barcelona Olympic Games 1992: British sprint champion Linford Christie dashed across the finish line in 9.96 seconds.  (AP)

Atlanta Olympic Games 1996: Canadian star Donovan Bailey ran for gold when he set a world record of 9.84 seconds in the 100-meter sprint.  (AP)

Rome Olympic Games 2000: Maurice Greene crossed the finish line in 9.87 seconds to bring home the gold for the United States.  (AP)

Athens Olympic Games 2004: United States sprinter Justin Gatlin crossed the finish line at 9.85 seconds to earn a gold medal. Here he is pictured with teammate Tyson Gay, left, after winning the 4x 100m men race at the Herculis International Athletics Meeting, at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco, July 20, 2012. (AP)

Beijing Olympic Games 2008: Jamaica's Usain Bolt shocked the world when he crossed the finish line in 9.69 seconds to clinch gold, seeming to slow down. For four years the racing world has wondered what remarkable time Bolt may have finished with if he had sprinted the entire way through. The answer may come at the 2012 London Games. Here he is pictured carrying in his country's flag at the 2012 Olympic opening ceremonies.  (AP)