Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals with a top speed of 115 kph (71 mph), as fast as an average car. They can only run fast for short distances though and have to rest after about 500 m (550 yards). Cheetahs have flexible backbones which allow them to take giant 7 m (23 ft) leaps. They can reach 72 kph (45 mph) from a standstill in just two seconds. In the 1930s cheetahs were raced against greyhounds in London. The cheetahs won.