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How Long Does it Take to be a World Class Sprinter?

You are here: Home / Track & Field / How Long Does it Take to be a World Class Sprinter?
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December 9, 2014 by Jimson Lee Leave a Comment

Last Updated on April 24, 2020 by Jimson Lee

I often get asked the question, “How long does it take to become a World Class Athlete?  A World Class Sprinter?”

I define “World Class” as being selected to your National Team, and representing your country at the Olympics or World Championships.  I won’t get into the tourist debate of making top 16 or top 8 or even “owning the podium”.

My rough guestimate has always been about 8 years of deliberate practice (or DP), or committed sprint training, hence my 4 year annual plan macrocycle.  But I started very late… I only started training seriously for triple jump in my 3rd year of University with Dennis Barrett at McGill, and I trained 8 years (actually 9 years with 1 sabbatical) and the best I could do was muster a 5th place at the 1992 Canadian Nationals in the 400m.  No berth on any team, except for the self-funded return flight home.

But what about those who trained seriously for track in high school?

How about those who were identified early in their development to have potential of speed?  Like Lauren Williams (the daughter of TrackMom’s Lorraine Williams?)

You Can’t Teach Speed: Sprinters Break 10-year Rule

How Long Does it Take to be a World Class Sprinter?

If you have time, read You can’t teach speed: sprinters falsify the deliberate practice model of expertise by Michael P. Lombardo and Robert O. Deaner.

To summarize, exceptional speed prior to formal training is a prerequisite for becoming a world-class sprinter, researchers have found. The authors noted that because speed is crucial for many sports, the new results imply that talent is important for many sports besides track and field.  The authors also pointed out that their behavioural data complement many genetic and physiological studies indicating individual variation in athletic talent.

See also  Want to Race Against Justin Gatlin or Warren Weir?

[Tweet “Sprinters are born, then made.”]

The study shows that the developmental histories of elite sprinters contradict the popular deliberate practice model of expertise. According to this model, there is no such thing as innate talent. Instead, 10 years of deliberate practice (otherwise known as the 10,000 hour rule) are necessary and sufficient for anyone to become an expert in any field, including sports.

My Conclusion

Sprinters are born, then made.  As John Smith of HSI once said, “You can’t make a donkey win the Kentucky Derby”.

You have to be born with the right genetics and socio-econominc background, followed by several years of structured training. Only them with a bit of luck and injury free years, drugs or no drugs, you will become a World Class athlete.

[Tweet “HSI’s John Smith: “You can’t make a donkey win the Kentucky Derby””]

Take a look at the table below and you can see how long it took various sprinters become world class.

Athlete Sex Olympic
games
Events won Superior sprinting
speed documented
as youth or
teenager
Years of DP
to reach
world class
statusa
Reference
Jesse Owens M 1936 100 m, 200 m Yes 4 Baker (1986)
Helen Stephens F 1936 100 m Yes 3 Hanson (2004)
Wilma Rudolph F 1960 100 m, 200 m Yes 2 Smith (2006), Mallon (1995), Rudolph (1977), Schraff (2004)
Bob Hayes M 1964 100 m Yes 2 Hayes (1990)
Wyomia Tyus F 1964 100 m Yes 7 Davis (1992), Carlson (1995), Tyus (2010)
1968 100 m
Tommie Smith M 1968 200 m Yes 3 Smith & Steele (2007)
Evelyn Ashford F 1984 100 m Yes 1 Davis (1992), Hornbuckle (1995b)
Florence Griffith Joyner F 1988 100 m, 200 m Yes 2 Davis (1992), Hornbuckle (1995c)
Carl Lewis M 1984 100 m Yes NA Lewis & Marx (1990)
1988 200 m
100 mb
Ben Johnson M 1988 100 mb Yes 3 Christie (1988)
Gail Devers F 1992 100 m Yes 6 Hornbuckle (1995d)
1996 100 m
Gwen Torrence F 1992 200 m Yes 7 Hornbuckle (1995a)
Michael Johnson M 1996 200 m Yes 5 Johnson (1996)
Marion Jones F 2000 100 mc Yes 1 Jones (2004), Gutman (2000)
Usain Bolt M 2008 100 m Yes 4 Bolt (2010), Cantor (2011), Irving (2010)
2012 200 m,
100 m,
200 m
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Notes:

a-Defined as representing their country in international competitions (e.g., Olympic Games, World Championships).
b-Awarded the gold medal because Ben Johnson was disqualified as winner for using performance enhancing drugs.
c-Disqualified as winner for using performance enhancing drugs.

Category iconCoaching,  Track & Field

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

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