The day Donovan Bailey became the world's fastest man ever | Oral History

On July 27, 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey set a world record in the 100-metre dash. Relive the entire race, from every false start, to its epic finish.
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[@420people]

That face through the finish line. ICONIC

[@nikospaleologos3907]

Something about his form when he's running is appealing, he was an awesome runner and scary back then

[@italiacameron]

Greatest win ever! I will forever remember where I was and pride and joy he gave us all as Canadians! He is like a truck when he runs, solid, and strong!!!

[@terrencetaylor8196]

However, yet the Canadian press/media questioned his loyalty.

[@worldview2134]

The line up in the final was amazing Sad Christie was out . Would loved to see Bailey beat him. This final was the who’s who of the 100 meters.

[@chrisandanna8265]

still gives me chills

[@vinnykurri17]

I was 23 and in Atlanta at the time. Its amazing looking back how close I was to greatness. Never got close to the event but got to visit the Olympic Park which is a story in itself. (I was there the night before the bombing). This and the 4 × 100 was absolute redemption for Canada after Ben in '88.

[@MakesNolSense]

I just adore this and just watched again tonight, (Dec 18/23). This always gives me a tear of joy when I see it and was so happy when I watched this live in 1996! Just an AMAZING moment in all of sports!

[@hodell82]

Love the head on angle. Gives you an appreciation for just how fast Bailey was going. At his peak acceleration, it looked like Bailey's feet were barely touching the ground, almost like he was floating.

[@shak3166]

I love Donovan bailey! He was a big inspiration to me.

[@ytcommentsguy]

Bailey could have done 9.80s, had it not been for the energy he lost during the false starts.

[@Julius_Paul]

Ben Johnson relied on his fastest start ever by human (even to this day) to win. Donovan Bailey had a slow start but the fastest acceleration during the final 70 meters leaving the others in the dust. The combo of Ben's first 50 and Donovan's final 50 would match Bolt's record.

[@awfan221]

De Grasse has a similar slow start issue, and amazing finish as Bailey.

[@melbrooks1192]

Incredible race.

[@leandroferreira2107]

Donavan Bayley is my favorite runner. For me he is the best of all times, he runs with a lot of style!

[@italiacameron]

Me too!

[@sturlingobrien2996]

Bolt is GOAT. obviously.

[@seanwilson5516]

Best of all times? He's never even won an individual double once. You're clearly slow, and I'm not talking about running.

[@TheKieshaKiesha]

i was a kid and i heard my entire street yelling and cheering that summer

[@GeroNimo-pk1fb]

Donovan was supreme talent. He only started racing seriously when he was already 23 years old.

[@cosmicwisdom999]

yes

[@September2004]

It’s amazing that he knew he won even though he was just barely ahead of them.

[@tonybanh1985]

I watched this live but totally forgot there were 3! false starts to this race...crazy tense

[@doriankeating1963]

The six million dollar man ! Ran like a machine , like a steam train hunting them down at full bore ! The most exciting 100 ever ! I wish he had been running against bolt back then , I believe he would of ran anyone down! Cheers from Australia!

[@markpope2512]

Remember watching that race live at the Loose Moose Bar in Toronto. Packed house!!! What a night

[@RawLu.]

Very Proud of you, Donovan 😎

[@breakaway2x]

Did nobody else notice that Donovan Bailey actually moved/twitched during the 4th restart after the 3 false starts? Bailey didn't leave the blocks earlier but he did move before everyone else did. In 1996, this would actually be a FALSE START under their rules. It wasn't until 2012 that they changed the rules and removed the twitch out of the false start rule. Wow guys, Bailey actually false started the 4th one and he won gold. To me, he won fair and square (he was actually the last one to leave the blocks anyways) but just saying, under the rules, he actually false started but wasn't called for it.

[@drewagoosa68]

I never noticed that before. He did twitch

[@iRonlMoNKleY]

Yes, he did twitch. I noticed that too, but those rules didn't exist then. He was so slow starting out of the blocks, but Degrassed his way to the end.

[@Lupin788]

No human can be completely still. If you record any start with a high speed camera, then replay it at a slower speed, you'd see small movements in everyone, most of which are imperceptible to the naked eye. As long as the runner doesn't leave the blocks early, there is no false start.

[@breakaway2x]

@@Lupin788 yes, but Bailey flinched very noticeably lol. Anyways, amazing run! Bailey deserves it all he won fair and square he was the best! Just surprised he flinched that much considering they already had 3 false starts before this final attempt.

[@breakaway2x]

@@drewagoosa68 Yeah crazy eh? He won fair and square but it was just interesting to look back 25 years and realize he flinched that much and fortunately it wasn't a false start.

[@StatementPlus]

Donovan Baily, my childhood hero. As a Canadian sprinter in 100m and 200m in the mid 90s in elementary school, I won all my races in school, Zone and County meets, and anchored my school in the relay team. I raced in what was called the "Presidential" meet which to this day i have no idea what area that covered back then. I only did poorly there because my school never told me about the meets and I had zero prep time. I was notified the morning of. My dream was to run for Canada. This video brings almost a tear to my eye as I, like Donovan, wasn't a great starter but would always chase the runners down. 100m always the crown jewel of the Olympics.

[@awfan221]

Well you clearly have good memories and that's very valuable. Keep hold of them.

[@BmountainSon]

The commentary call was nearly just as legendary

[@awfan221]

For this and the 4x100 final in the 96 Olympics, legendary commentaries

[@goatscansing]

Don Wittman. A legend

[@MNSTgrowth]

Amazing!!

[@subcribe704]

He's also Jamaican born in spauldings Clarendon

[@quantass]

Nicely produced!

[@PregnantSausage]

Vey Nice presentation, CBC!

[@hahafalseflag5090]

PRETTY MUCH JUST ANOTHER GREAT JAMAICAN SPRINTER

[@CCdion23]

2:49 I’ve watched this race in my lifetime approximately 40-50 times But I just noticed Donovan actually had a twitch at the line, right before the gun. Watch his head and upper body bobble! Luckily it was so minor and undetected.

[@Jarro21]

Per rule a twitch does not equate to a false start. Please research the rule. Either hand must leave the ground or feet leave the block pedal in order to constitute a false start. Simply twitching alone doesn't constitute a false start by rule.

[@ErynQuentery]

🍁 LEGEND

[@gpowder911]

I saw this and Lewis in '91 live. Had no doubt that they'd each win and run their PB: you could see that each one's acceleration pattern was a picture-perfect version of the race plan they'd been refining. You knew it just after the drive phase at the middle of the transition phase (after about 45m). Same with Sha'carri this year!

[@CMBFreedom]

AWESOME 👏 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@wilroychrist3726]

Sick topend speed

[@taylorport5317]

Bailey a the boss

[@fifthbusiness1678]

Each of the runners in that final, save for Donavan Bailey, were caught doping. In Ben Johnson’s final, all 8 were eventually found guilty of doping.

[@wilroychrist3726]

Wow.

[@micatrsic8762]

dieser lauf war einfach ein wahnsinn, er war praktisch der letzte und gewinnt das rennen sowas hab ich noch nie gesehen!!!

[@thepsychologist8159]

Bailey would have gone faster if he didn't flinch at the start. If you look closely, you can see he makes a slight movement forward, recoils but then the gun goes off leaving him slower off the blocks.

[@wailee3939]

If Bailey had even a average start out the blocks he would of easily ran sub 9.80. If he was a good starter I bet he could of ran sub 9.70's a record that would of held until Usain Bolt turned up.

[@Warren_Flatt]

100% great point!. i also wonder if he had a good start and also dipped at the end would he be even faster. he was just on full on beast mode and ran straight to the finish line without dipping his head.

[@wailee3939]

@@Warren_Flatt When Bailey hit his max speed it reminds me of Bolt, if they are behind they chase the leaders down, if they were ahead no one is going to catch them.

[@one0onelion248]

He literally started in last place. I've always wondered what he would've ran if he had a good start. At that moment in time, he would've put up a time so absured people would be yelling steroids. Regardless... great moment in time 🙏 made us Canadians so proud.

[@wailee3939]

@@one0onelion248With a good start he would of held the WR until Powell or Bolt came along

[@one0onelion248]

@@wailee3939 For sure. If you watch all of Donovan's races in his prime, he NEVER has a good start. It was so weird, he could never improve it for whatever reason. We could've seen some unreal absurd times in the 90s by him.

[@grantskelton1219]

Just imagine his times if he could produce better starts

[@Lordrixson5489]

I was gutted for Christie

[@williamsmith7340]

Bailey is great, and we should all be proud of him, but the fastest ever Canadian was Ben Johnson, and in 1988 we shamefully failed to support him after he won a race in which every one of his competitors was also on the juice.

[@wailee9407]

If Bailey had a better start he would have run low 9.70's. His top speed must be close to Bolt

[@berbanedash7935]

Unhaman like

[@caknelson2254]

If Linford Christie did not have a false start we would have a different first place winner.

[@martinfiay8908]

Jamaican stock ....Canadian clothes

[@seanwilson5516]

0:30 I see 2 Jamaican stock, 1 full Jamaican and a half Jamaican. Now that's a lot of Jamaicans.

[@DJoy221]

Jamaican-Canadian yes 🙄

[@tawnyarobinson6793]

Thanks tips.

[@gena3136]

@@seanwilson5516 it's actually 2 half Christie is also jamaican by birth

[@seanwilson5516]

@@gena3136 Bailey and Christie (2 Jamaican stock), Green (1full Jamaican) and Boldon (half Jamaican).

[@michaeldevaney5728]

Christie should have got at least a 3 year ban for messing he deliberately got himself disqualified

[@tbz1551]

I suggest the 'editor' look up the definition of "oral history". Just lazy.

[@CBCSports]

Are you sure you don't want to put 'lazy' in quotations too?