Everything to know about "Sub-10 King" Asafa Powell, exploring the Jamaican's biography, iconic sprinting career, world records, personal bests and current family life. Who is Asafa Powell? Asafa Powell is a Jamaican sprinting icon whose career redefined consistency. Before Usain Bolt’s emergence, Powell was the undisputed fastest man on the planet, holding the coveted 100 metres world record. Yet, his legacy extends far beyond those record-breaking moments. Powell is perhaps most famously known as the "Sub-10 King," the athlete who achieved the remarkable feat of running the 100 metres in under 10 seconds more times than any other sprinter in history. His presence was central to the golden age of Jamaican sprinting, a period of unprecedented dominance on the global stage. Asafa Powell Age Asafa Powell was born on November 23, 1982. As of April 2025, he is 42 years old Asafa Powell Height Asafa Powell possesses the powerful physique characteristic of elite sprinters. Powell is 6 feet 3 inches (1.91m) tall. Where is Asafa Powell from? Asafa Powell is Jamaican, hailing from the parish of St. Catherine. Powell was born in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. When did Asafa Powell start running? Asafa Powell's entry into competitive sprinting was relatively late. Initially, his career aspirations lay elsewhere; he planned to become a mechanic. Powell attended Ewarton Primary School and later Charlemont High School in St. Catherine. It was not until his later high school years, around the age of 17 or 18 (circa 2000-2001), while studying in Kingston, that he began to take running more seriously. Representing the less-heralded Charlemont High at Jamaica's prestigious ISSA High School Championships ("Champs"), Powell initially made little impact, running 11.45 seconds in his 100m preliminary heat in his debut year. However, he showed rapid improvement, and by 2001, he returned to Champs and made it to the finals, catching the attention of Stephen Francis, the renowned coach and founder of the MVP (Maximising Velocity and Power) Track Club. Asafa Powell Biography Asafa Powell's journey from a quiet student with an interest in mechanics to a global sprinting phenomenon will be told for years to come. Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, the youngest son of ministers, his path to athletic stardom was not preordained. His relatively late start in serious track competition quickly gave way to a meteoric rise under the tutelage of coach Stephen Francis at the MVP Track Club in Kingston, beginning in late 2001. His first taste of international competition came at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where he reached the 100m semi-finals, setting a personal best of 10.26s, and anchored the Jamaican 4x100m relay team to a silver medal. PAY ATTENTION: Check out Bet of the Day page - we provide expert tips The following year, 2003, marked a significant breakthrough as he clocked his first-ever sub-10-second 100m (9.99s) and won the Jamaican National Championship, officially becoming the fastest man in the country. However, his debut World Championships in Paris ended in disappointment with a disqualification for a false start in the quarter-finals. The year 2004 showcased Powell's burgeoning dominance on the circuit. He clocked an astonishing nine sub-10-second 100m races, equalling the record at the time, and lowered the Jamaican national record to 9.91s. Despite entering the Athens Olympics as a favourite, he finished a disappointing fifth in the final (9.94s), a result that foreshadowed a recurring theme in his career: immense speed on the circuit sometimes failing to translate into individual gold at major global championships. This pattern led some observers to question his ability to perform under the intense pressure of pinnacle events. Undeterred, Powell achieved his crowning glory on June 14, 2005, fittingly in Athens, where he broke the 100m world record with a stunning time of 9.77 seconds, eclipsing Tim Montgomery's previous mark. He would equal this record twice in 2006 (Gateshead and Zurich) and then lower it further to 9.74 seconds in Rieti, Italy, in September 2007. The Rieti run became part of his complex legacy, as Powell later expressed regret, believing he eased off prematurely and could have run significantly faster, perhaps even into the 9.6s range. During this period, he also captured double gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (100m and 4x100m relay). Despite holding the world record, major individual championship finals remained a challenge. Powell finished third in the 100m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka (behind Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins) and fifth again at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (where teammate Usain Bolt claimed gold with a new world record). He did contribute to a world record-breaking 4x100m relay gold in Beijing, though the medal was later rescinded due to a teammate's doping violation. Powell earned further individual World Championship 100m bronze medals in Berlin 2009. However, his career faced a significant hurdle in 2013 when he tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine. Powell maintained his innocence, stating he had unknowingly ingested a contaminated supplement. After an initial suspension, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ultimately cleared him and teammate Sherone Simpson in July 2014, accepting their explanation. Powell continued competing at an elite level well into his 30s, showcasing remarkable longevity. The Jamaican’s defining characteristic remained his unparalleled consistency: he broke the 10-second barrier an incredible 97 times legally, a record that dwarfs his contemporaries and solidifies his moniker as the "Sub-10 King". He finally announced his retirement in November 2022, concluding a career marked by breathtaking speed, world records and pioneering contributions to Jamaican athletics. Why did Asafa Powell retire? The primary drivers behind Asafa Powell's retirement were the cumulative physical demands of elite sprinting and the injuries that inevitably accompany such a long and intense career. After almost 20 years competing at the highest level, the gruelling training schedule required to maintain world-class speed had taken its toll on his body. Powell himself admitted that he never truly wanted to retire when he did, suggesting the decision was influenced heavily by physical limitations rather than a waning desire to compete. When did Asafa Powell retire? Asafa Powell officially announced his retirement from track and field on November 23, 2022, via a post on Twitter. The announcement came on his 40th birthday, symbolically marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. While the official announcement was in late 2022, his final competitive race recorded by World Athletics was back in May 2021. Asafa Powell Titles and Medals Asafa Powell won 16 medals across the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Indoor Championships and Commonwealth Games, claiming 10 golds, four silver and two bronze medals. Here is a breakdown of his medal history in the junior and main circuit. Olympic Games Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4×100 m relayDisqualified 2008 Beijing 4×100 m relay Gold medal – first place 2009 Berlin 4×100 m relayGold medal – first place 2015 Beijing 4×100 m relaySilver medal – second place 2007 Osaka 4×100 m relayBronze medal – third place 2007 Osaka 100 mBronze medal – third place 2009 Berlin 100 m Silver medal – second place 2016 Portland 60 m Gold medal – first place 2004 Monaco 100 mGold medal – first place 2004 Monaco 200 mGold medal – first place 2006 Stuttgart 100 mGold medal – first place 2007 Stuttgart 100 mGold medal – first place 2008 Stuttgart 100 mSilver medal – second place 2009 Thessaloniki 100 m Winner 2011 100 metresWinner 2016 100 metres Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne 100 mGold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne 4×100 m relaySilver medal – second place 2002 Manchester 4×100 m relay Silver medal – second place 2001 Santa Fe 4x100 meters relay Asafa Powell Personal Bests Asafa Powell 100m Record Asafa Powell's reign as the world's fastest man was a defining period in 100m sprinting history. On the very same track where Maurice Greene had run his 9.79s world record in 1999, Powell blazed to a time of 9.77 seconds. Powell managed to equal his own 9.77s world record on two separate occasions in 2006. First, at the Gateshead International Stadium on June 11, and again at the prestigious Weltklasse meeting in Zurich on August 18. On September 9, 2007, at a meeting in Rieti, Italy, Powell lowered his world record to an astonishing 9.74 seconds. The Jamaican held the official 100m world record from June 2005 until May 2008, before his younger compatriot, Usain Bolt, announced his arrival on the 100m scene by clocking 9.72 seconds in New York, ushering in a new chapter in sprinting history. Asafa Powell vs Usain Bolt Initially, Asafa Powell was the benchmark in Jamaican tennis. He held the 100m world record (first 9.77s, then 9.74s) when Bolt began seriously contesting the event. Their early head-to-head encounters were competitive. Notably, Powell handed Bolt a rare defeat in Stockholm just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, although Bolt had a notoriously poor start in that race. However, the tide turned decisively in Beijing. In the Olympic 100m final, Bolt stormed to gold with a stunning 9.69s world record, while Powell finished a distant fifth, effectively symbolising the shift in power within Jamaican sprinting. Despite Bolt's ascendancy, the relationship between the two appears to have been characterised more by mutual respect and national pride than by bitter rivalry. Bolt credited Powell as a key motivator, someone whose performances pushed him to greater heights. Powell, in turn, acknowledged Bolt's extraordinary talent, recognising him as "the man to beat" while still striving to challenge him. They were often teammates on Jamaica's dominant 4x100m relay teams, sharing success on the global stage even as they battled individually. Powell's presence at Bolt's side during numerous relay victories, including the Rio 2016 Olympic gold, highlights the collaborative aspect of their relationship. Asafa Powell Parents Asafa Powell’s parents are Reverend William and Cislyn Powell, who are both ministers. As the youngest of six sons, Asafa comes from a family with a notable athletic background. His brother Donovan Powell is also a former sprinter who competed in the Olympics. Sadly, Asafa lost two of his brothers in the early 2000s: Michael was killed in 2002 and Vaughn passed away in 2003. Despite these personal hardships, his family has been a source of support throughout his career, with his father and brother even travelling to the Beijing Olympics to cheer him on. Asafa Powell Wife Asafa Powell is married to Alyshia Miller-Powell. Alyshia is a model with a multicultural background; she was born in Accra, Ghana, to a Canadian father and a Ghanaian mother who hails from Ghana's Central Region. At the age of 10, her family relocated to Canada, where she grew up. Interestingly, like her husband, Alyshia also has a background in athletics, having competed in the 400 metres and relays before transitioning into a successful modelling career after being scouted in 2012. Their paths first crossed indirectly at a track meet in Canada in 2012, where Powell was competing and Alyshia attended with a friend. It was not until 2015 that Powell reached out to her via Instagram, sparking a friendship that blossomed into romance. The couple got engaged in 2018 and tied the knot in a private ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on February 16, 2019. Alyshia is an active partner in their joint YouTube channel, "The Powells," where they share glimpses of their family life and discuss various topics. Asafa Powell Children Asafa Powell is a father to multiple children. With his wife Alyshia, he has two sons: Amieke, born in 2019, and Azhaf, born in late 2021. Reports from early 2025 indicated that the couple was expecting their third child together. Powell also has two children from relationships prior to his marriage to Alyshia: a daughter named Avani and a son named Liam. He often shares moments with his children on social media, embracing his role as a father. Recently, Powell has been vocal about the future athletic paths of his children, particularly his sons with Alyshia. Given Alyshia's Ghanaian and Canadian heritage, the children hold potential eligibility to represent these nations in addition to Jamaica. Powell has stated he would support his children regardless of which country they might choose to represent, but he has also expressed significant concerns about the perceived lack of adequate support systems for athletes within Jamaica. He linked these concerns to his past experiences, even mentioning regret over turning down a lucrative offer to switch nationalities early in his career, suggesting that ensuring his children's future well-being and support is paramount. Asafa Powell Net Worth Asafa Powell's net worth is $6.5 million (as of April 2025), as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. As one of the most consistent performers on the international circuit, Powell earned significant prize money. His dominance at the IAAF World Athletics Final alone netted him a record US$173,000 for a male athlete over the event's history. Wins and high placings at Diamond League meetings and other Grand Prix events would have added considerably to this total. Powell also secured lucrative sponsorship deals with major global brands. Early in his career, he was associated with Nike and from 2010, he was partnered with the Chinese apparel company Li Ning. In 2015, he signed with Puma and had long-standing relationships with companies like GlaxoSmithKline via their Lucozade energy drink (since 2005) and Nutrilite (a global brand spokesperson from 2006 to 2009). Post-retirement, Powell continues to generate income through new ventures. He and his wife, Alyshia, run a popular family YouTube channel, "The Powells," which likely provides revenue through advertising and sponsorships. He has also expressed interest in coaching, potentially opening another avenue for earnings. Ambassadorial roles for brands or events are also common for retired athletes of his stature. Asafa Powell Instagram Asafa Powell’s official and verified Instagram handle is @asafasub10king. Powell is active on the platform, frequently sharing insights into his life beyond the track. His posts often feature moments with his wife Alyshia and their children, offering a glimpse into his family life. He also shares throwback photos and videos from his illustrious sprinting career and promotes content from their family YouTube channel, "The Powells". Increasingly, he has used his platform to voice opinions on the state of track and field and advocate for better athlete support systems, demonstrating a conscious effort to remain engaged with the sport and shape conversations around it.