3:43.13—and John Brenkus says we can do it even faster. Brenkus, who hosts Sport Science on ESPN, has written a new book, The Perfection Point, that draws on recent anatomical research to predict the ultimate limits for a variety of athletic feats. “It’s about looking at the best performance and asking, what are the variables that really matter?” he says. “What levers can we move, and how far can we move them?” Here he gives us the lowdown on the heights of human performance. <![CDATA[ .est_col { float:left; width:200px; margin-right:16px; } .est_col_last { margin-right:0px; } ]]>

Fastest 100-Meter Dash
Current record: 9.58 seconds
Theoretical limit: 8.99 seconds
Get off the blocks 100 milliseconds after the starter pistol fires. Accelerate to 29.4 mph and maintain that speed to the finish line. That’s not easy; most sprinters peak halfway through and then slow down. But in 2009, Usain Bolt managed to sustain a blistering pace of around 27 mph and finished in 9.58 seconds. Factor in a 3.7 percent physiological improvement, plus better environmental conditions, and the nine-second barrier could fall.

Longest Golf Drive
Current record: 418 yards
Theoretical limit: 543 yards
Jamie Sadlowski, the current record holder, had slight technical flaws in his swing. Correcting them might add 17 yards. A player taller than the 5?11? Sadlowski would also have more leverage; an extra 8 inches of height could yield 33 yards. And with more flexibility, you could add 70 degrees of backswing, good for another 17 yards. Finally, more muscle never hurts; Brenkus figures you could pick up 58 yards from a 14 percent increase in strength.

Highest Dunk
Current record: 12 feet
Theoretical limit: 14 feet, 5 inches
A standard hoop is 10 feet high, but the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and former Harlem Globetrotter Michael Wilson have both made 12-foot dunks. How to best them? Be tall. Wilson is only 6?4?, but you could stand as high as 7?2? without compromising jumping ability. With freakishly long arms, that could mean a vertical reach of 10?9?. Figure in a 51-inch leap, account for the diameter of the ball, and you’re slamming on the shot clock.

Authors: Mario Aguilar

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