Animal Olympics: 9 species that could smash human world records

As Tokyo welcomes the world’s best athletes to the 32nd Olympic Games, let us also celebrate the athletic abilities of the wider animal kingdom.

From fencing flatworms, to the big cat that could beat Usain Bolt, please be upstanding for the world’s greatest animal Olympians.

1. Longest Jumper

Human record: 8.95m – Mike Powell (USA)

Animal record: 15m –  Snow leopard

2. Highest jump

Human record: 2.45m – Javier Sotomayor (Cuba)

Animal record: 5.7m – White-tailed jackrabbits

3. Fastest sprinter

Human record: 44.72km/h – Usain Bolt (USA)

Animal record: 114.5km/h – Cheetah

4. Fastest swimmer

Human record: 7.08km/h – Michael Phelps (USA)

Animal record: 40km/h – Sailfish

5. Deepest Diver

Human record: 332m – Ahmed Gabr (Egypt)

Animal record: 2,992m – Cuvier’s beaked whale

6. Weightlifting

Human record: 485kg – Lasha Talakhadze (Georgia)

Animal record: 1,000kg – African elephant

7. Marathon running

Human record: 2:01:39 hours – Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)

Animal record: 45 minutes – Ostrich

8. Fastest punch

Human record: 20m/s – Keith Liddell (USA)

Animal record: 23m/s – Mantis shrimp

9. Fencing

Human best: Daniele Garozzo (Italy) – 2016 Olympic gold medallist

Animal best: Flatworm – Fence with their penises as part of courtship

from... sciencefocus.com