Watch a Rugby Star Get a Huge Head Start Against a Cheetah. Does He Stand a Chance?

Quick Take

• Bryan Habana was one of the fastest rugby players alive, yet even with a sizable head start he still couldn't close the gap.
• A cheetah's acceleration stat is genuinely hard to believe, which explains everything about why the head start meant nothing.
• The cheetah is the fastest land animal, but something else leaves it looking slow. Most people would never guess what it is.
• The race wasn't just a stunt. There was a bigger reason Habana agreed to get outrun on camera.

There are fast humans, and then there are animals built for an entirely different level of speed. In 2007, South African rugby star Bryan Habana lined up for a 100-meter race against a cheetah to help raise awareness for cheetah conservation. Habana was one of the fastest players in international rugby and even received a sizable head start. It still was not enough.

Watch the Incredible Race Below!

One of Rugby’s Fastest Players Took on the World’s Fastest Land Animal

The race took place in April 2007 at the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre in South Africa, now known as the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. Habana was not exactly an average guy pulled out of the crowd. Later that same year, he helped South Africa win the Rugby World Cup, finished as the tournament’s leading try scorer with eight, and was named the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”0″}

The cheetah, named Cetane, was running after a lure rather than chasing Habana himself. Even with Habana starting well ahead, the cat rapidly closed the gap and passed him before the finish. The exhibition was designed to draw attention to cheetah conservation, which makes the outcome somewhat fitting: the cheetah was always supposed to be the star of the show. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”1″}

How Fast Can a Cheetah Really Run?

Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals on Earth, capable of reaching roughly 60 to 70 miles per hour during short bursts. Smithsonian’s National Zoo notes that they can accelerate from zero to about 45 miles per hour in just 2.5 seconds and cover roughly 23 feet in a single stride at top speed. That speed cannot be sustained for long, which is why cheetahs rely on explosive acceleration and short pursuits rather than extended chases. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”2″}

Their bodies are essentially built around that job. Long legs create huge strides, flexible spines allow the body to stretch dramatically while running, and semi-retractable claws help provide traction. Large nostrils and lungs also help move oxygen quickly during those intense bursts. Put all of that together and even an elite athlete with a head start is competing against an animal operating in a completely different speed category. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”3″}

Is Any Animal Faster Than a Cheetah?

On land, nothing beats the cheetah. Overall, though, the speed crown belongs to the peregrine falcon. During a hunting dive known as a stoop, peregrines can exceed 200 miles per hour. Cornell’s All About Birds reports speeds around 200 miles per hour during steep dives, while research involving trained falcons has recorded even higher figures. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”4″}

Peregrines use those dives to hunt other birds, including pigeons, ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds, often striking prey in midair. In ordinary flight they are nowhere near 200 miles per hour, but once gravity joins the equation, even a cheetah starts looking slow. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”5″}

The Race Was a Spectacle, but the Conservation Message Mattered

Habana’s race was staged entertainment, not something anyone should try with a wild cheetah. These cats are powerful predators, and their speed is meant for hunting, not racing people. The event was organized specifically to promote cheetah conservation, and Habana said at the time that drawing attention to the animals was more important than whether he won. Considering what happened once Cetane started running, that was probably the right attitude. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”6″}