The world’s fastest land animals are way quicker than humans

Humans might be incredible endurance runners but when it comes to fast bursts of high speed there are a handful of fast animals that have us all beat. But just how quick is the fastest human?

If you Google, “How fast can humans run at top speed?” or any variation of that question then you will likely be met with a 2020 New York Times article that wanted an answer to that very same question. 

It turns out that the answer was rather easy. The fastest a human can go, or at least the fastest that we can prove, is about twenty-seven and a half miles per hour according to the speed Usian Bolt briefly reached in the 100-meter dash in 2009. 

The New York Times article goes on to explore the complicated reality offered up by a 2010 study that looked at the limiting factor of humanity’s speed is determined by how quickly we can rearrange our legs. 

For our purposes, the theoretical top speed of humans isn’t as important as the fastest speed our species can run but rather the proven speed our best athlete has been able to achieve, so keep Usain Bolt’s record top speed in mind. 

One of the more incredible facts about speed in real life is that animals at a run tend to be a lot faster than they appear according to Fact Animal. You may think you should take that fact with a grain of salt since a lot of websites tend to be poorly sourced…

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However, Fact Animal is different. One of the guiding principles of the website is its mission for authenticity and thoroughly researched facts that it pulls from credible research and peer-reviewed journals. 

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All content is moderated and reviewed, which makes its definitive list of animals that are faster than human beings one of the best that can be found on the internet. It pulled the top credible recorded speeds for the world's fastest ten animals. 

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So just how many animals have a land speed faster than the quickest recorded human? Let’s take a look at what the research says and the animals you don’t want to compete against if your life depends on it! 

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Lions might have been at the top of your list for the fastest land animal. Turns out they are not and for good reason. The animals they prey on need to be faster. That’s just good ol’ evolutionary theory for you. The lion's top speed is 50.2 kph or 31.19 mph.

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It shouldn’t be a surprise now that one of the main prey of lions is also faster than the thing that tends to eat them a lot. Wildebeest has a top speed of 51.5 kph / 32 mph. It’s important to note this speed was adapted to outrun crocodiles, leopards, and cheetahs.

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Fact Animal referred to zebras as “sexy punk donkeys with a lot of fast predators.” It's more the predator part that has helped them develop the ability to hit top speeds of Top Speed: 57.6 kph or 35.8 mph. 

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It might not seem like the biological equivalent of a transport truck would be one of the world’s speediest fauna but Fact Animal noted that the science says a credible source has put this animal's top speed at 60 kph or 37.3 mph.

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If you’ve ever interacted with a greyhound then you already know these canines are quick, but you might not have known they’re one of the fastest animals in the world… They have a top speed of 61 kph or 37.9 mph. 

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The ostrich is the only animal on the list with two legs, but it's also one of the more guessable options, mostly because they are giant birds with extremely long legs. Their top speed comes in at a quick 70 kph or 43.5 mph. 

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The Quarter Horse is apparently touted as the fastest horse in the world but that is a hotly debated topic. For now, all you need to know is that this horse would blow you away in a race with a top speed of 71 kph or 44 mph. Other data suggest that the number could hit 88kkph or 55mph. 

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The Dorcas Gazelle has a proven top speed of 80 kph or 50 mph, a quickness that it needs to escape its predators… mhmm lions. But it turns out the Dorcas Gazelle still isn’t faster than one of its biggest predators. 

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The second fastest land animal in the world is one you’ve probably never heard of before: the Pronghorn. This weird animal has evolved to run as fast as its main predator and can maintain a top speed of 65kmph or 40mph) for at least 11km (7 miles)! Its top speed is 100 kph or 62 mph. 

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That’s right, the fastest land animal in the world is the humble cheetah. Fact Animal noted that the cheetah is an ambush predator that has the incredible ability to accelerate to insane speeds before reaching muscle fatigue. This nasty predator has a top speed of 105 kph or 65 mph, much faster than Usain Bolt could ever reach…

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