Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres the bronze. For Fredericks and Boldon, this was the second event where they both medaled behind a world record setting run; Fredericks took silver and Boldon bronze in the 200 metre event where Michael Johnson ran 19.32 to complete his Olympic goal of winning gold in the 200m and 400m events. This marked the first time since 1976 that no American runner medaled in the 100 metres, with 1992 bronze medalist Dennis Mitchell placing fourth behind Boldon. Defending gold medalist Linford Christie of Great Britain advanced to the final but was disqualified after false starting twice. This was his last
Women's 100 metres world record progression the hundredth of a second for these events. Wyomia Tyus's 1968 Olympic gold medal performance and Renate Stecher's 1972 Olympic championship win, both in 11.07, were the fastest recorded fully electronic 100-metre races to that time and were ratified as world records. However, Tyus's 11.07 was later adjusted to 11.08. There is controversy over Griffith-Joyner's world record as questions have been raised as to whether the wind actually was ever zero, as indicated by the trackside anemometer. The triple-jump anemometer, some 10 metres away, read 4.3 m/s, more than double the acceptable limit. Despite the controversy, the record was ratified