Claim: Usain Bolt is an athlete.

The following table shows the world record progression in the men 's 200 metres , as ratified by the IAAF . The current record of 19.19 seconds was set by Usain Bolt at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics .   The IAAF maintained separate records for 200 m over a straight track and over a curved track . It discarded records for the former after 1976 . The IAAF ratified the first record for 200 m -LRB- bend -RRB- in 1951 . `` y '' denoted times for 220 yards -LRB- 201.17 m -RRB- which were also ratified for the event .   To June 21 , 2011 , the IAAF has ratified 24 world records in the event .