Luke Turgeon | August 27th, 2010
LIGHTNING quick Titans winger Kevin Gordon has further staked his claim as the fastest man in league, with GPS match data revealing the fleet-footed flyer has clocked speeds in excess of 40km/h this season.
With the turf at the Sydney Football Stadium still smouldering after he sensationally ran down Roosters rocket Sam Perrett on Monday night, the Gold Coast Bulletin has obtained the numbers that prove what many already believe.
Gordon has broken the 40km/h barrier numerous times this season, with a maximum recorded speed of 41.8km/h.
Put simply, the kid can move.
"He has worn a GPS unit in 10 games this year," said Titans strength and conditioning coach Chris McLellan.
"What we have had throughout the year is some spikes and some high velocities above 40km/h, which is super quick.
"He might have two or three of those in a game and they naturally correspond with him getting into space."
Incredibly, 100m world record-holder Usain Bolt has a top speed of about 43km/h, which is just 1.2km/h faster than 20-year-old Gordon.
But McLellan said it was unfair and extremely difficult to compare the two, as the speeds were measured in different ways.
Bolt's top speed is taken from timed 10m splits, while Gordon's maximum speed is measured by GPS over just a couple of metres.
"He has even asked us if that means he would run a sub-10 second 100m and the answer is no, because that is just his top-end speed," said McLellan.
"With a 100m sprint you have to get up to that speed and try and maintain it, so it doesn't equate.
"But he is still super quick at his top end."
The first time Gordon breached the 40km/h barrier, McLellan thought the GPS unit -- which sits between a player's shoulder blades near the base of the neck -- must have been broken.
He replaced it with a different unit a week later and, much to his surprise, Gordon produced the same results.
Unfortunately, the team was not wearing GPS during their victory over the Roosters, so the speed Gordon reached to reel in opposite Perrett was never recorded.
But even Perrett admitted being amazed by Gordon's pace.
"I remember seeing him play in the Toyota Cup and always knew he was lightning," said Perrett after the game. "I thought I was home and hosed and then turned around and saw Kevin there. I got a fright."
Despite his obvious claims, it appears Gordon will not get the chance to challenge for the official title of Australia's fastest footballer when the Gatorade Bolt hits Sydney on September 15.
With the Titans in the finals, Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis have been chosen to represent the NRL against rugby union, AFL and soccer in the event.