Who was Usain Bolt's predecessor as the world record holder in the 100 metres?

Asafa Powell was Usain Bolt's predecessor as the men's 100-metre world-record holder. Powell held the record immediately before Bolt broke it in 2008.

Powell first set the world record in Athens on 14 June 2005, running 9.77 seconds. He lowered it to 9.74 seconds in Rieti, Italy, on 9 September 2007. Bolt then ran 9.72 seconds in New York on 31 May 2008, taking the record from Powell.

Bolt lowered the mark several more times, including his famous 9.58-second run at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. That performance remains the recognized men's 100-metre world record.

Powell and Bolt were both Jamaican and competed in the same highly competitive sprint era. Powell remained one of the sport's fastest runners even after losing the record; his 9.72-second personal best still ranks among the quickest legal 100-metre performances. Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene were earlier record holders, not Powell's immediate successor.