US sprinter and first man to run 100m in under 10 seconds, Jim Hines, dies aged 76.

Hines broke the record in 1968 when he was able to complete the race in 9.9 hand-timed seconds, a record he himself later broke to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

He held the record for close to 15 years, according to BBC records, until Calvin Smith recorded a time of 9.93 in 1983.

The record holder for the men’s 100-meter race held it for the longest period of time ever.

The former Champion was raised in Oakland, California, and was born in the state of Arkansas in 1946.

He has always loved sports and began playing basketball at an early age, but as a teenager, he began to show a genuine knack for sprinting, and he began pursuing that desire.

He not only took home a gold medal in the 100m at the Mexico Olympics, but he also ran on the US 4x100m relay squad that took home a medal.

The “legend” was honored on the official Twitter account for the Olympic Games.

A comment said: “Saying farewell to a true legend. 1946 to 2023. The first man to break the 10 seconds barrier in the 100m sprint, Jim Hines.”

Saying farewell to a true legend. 1946 – 2023. 🖤

The first man to break the 10 seconds barrier in the 100m sprint, Jim Hines. pic.twitter.com/Om5tGJ6Nrq

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) June 5, 2023

Shortly after winning the medals, Jim retired from racing and joined the NFL. He played for the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs during his three seasons in the league.