Gorillas are not known for their speed, but they can sprint surprisingly fast when needed. The top speed of a gorilla has been clocked at around 25-30 mph (40-48 km/h) over short distances, usually less than 100 yards. For longer distances, their speed drops off quite a bit.
Gorillas are primarily knuckle-walkers that get around by walking on their wrists and fists, rather than upright like humans. This adaptation makes them slower than humans over long distances. However, when threatened or chasing potential prey, gorillas can unleash an impressive burst of speed by running on two legs briefly. Young gorillas in particular will sometimes run and play to exercise their speed.
While not cheetahs by any means, the sprinting speed of a gorilla is still quite fast compared to the average human jogger. However, gorillas tire quickly from running and prefer to conserve energy by walking most of the time on their knuckles. So a gorilla's top speed is reserved for emergency situations rather than sustained running activities.
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