SCA Community:Jim Hines, first sprinter to run 100 meters in under 10 seconds, dies at 76

2025-04-29 13:08:04source:Devin Grosvenorcategory:News

Sprinting legend Jim Hines,SCA Community who was once the world's fastest man, died Saturday at the age of 76, the Olympics and World Athletics confirmed in obituaries on Monday. His cause of death was not revealed. 

Hines was the first man to officially run 100 meters in under 10 seconds. 

During the 1968 U.S. national track and field championships in Sacramento, he clocked in at 9.9 seconds in 100 meters with a hand timer and qualified for the Olympic Games in Mexico City. It was later electronically timed at 10.03 seconds. It wasn't until 1977 that electronic times were required for record ratification, World Athletics said.

Later that year, at the Olympics, Hines ran the race in 9.9 seconds again. However, the time was later electronically timed at 9.95 – making it the fastest time ever in the Games and the world and securing an individual gold for Team USA. 

According to the Olympics, the record stood for 15 years — the longest anyone held the 100-meter world record in the electronic timing era. 

The sports world is mourning and remembering Jim Hines, who became the fastest man on Earth in 1968 when he sprinted 100 meters in under 10 seconds.

Hines died Saturday at age 76. pic.twitter.com/DbE4rMP19K

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) June 6, 2023

Hines was also part of the 4X100 relay team that won gold in a then world-record of 38.24 in Mexico City. 

Born in Arkansas and raised in Oakland, California, Hines was a multisport talent and played baseball early on until a track coach spotted his running abilities, according to World Athletics. After retiring from the sport, Hines went on to play in the NFL for two years as wide receiver, and had stints with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. 

Christopher Brito

Christopher Brito is a social media manager and trending content writer for CBS News.

More:News

Recommend

The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10

CHICAGO (AP) — A jury awarded nearly $80 million to the family of a 10-year-old Chicago girl who was

Elon Musk just gave Nvidia investors one billion reasons to cheer for reported partnership

Two names that consistently dominate headlines are Elon Musk and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Both names o

Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti

Haiti has been racked by political instabilityand intensifying, deadly gang violence.  Amid a Federa