Human beings would be made to look decidedly unimpressive were animals allowed to compete in the Olympics — outperformed by the likes of kangaroos, gorillas and ostriches, a science paper said.

Usain Bolt, currently the world’s fastest man, may just be able to outrun a Dromedary camel but would trail the cheetah, greyhound and ostrich in a sprint race, said a feature in the Veterinary Record journal.

“‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (faster, higher, stronger) is the Olympic motto, but if we allowed the rest of the animal kingdom into the Games … we could not offer much competition!” wrote author Craig Sharp.

Jamaican track star Bolt holds the 100m-record of 9.58 seconds, which translates into a speed of 37.6 kilometres per hour.

The world’s fastest land animal, the cheetah, can reach speeds of 104 kph, a thoroughbred racehorse 70 kph, a greyhound 69 kph and an ostrich 64 kph, said Sharp of the Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance at Brunel University in London.