American sprinter Noah Lyles has won the Olympic 100m title, triumphing over Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a razor-thin margin of just five-thousandths of a second.
The race, held at the Stade de France, concluded in a dramatic photo finish, with both athletes clocking an impressive 9.79 seconds, but Lyles’ powerful surge in the final strides secured him the gold medal.
Lyles initially trailed Thompson, who led for the majority of the race.
However, it was Lyles’ remarkable finishing kick that propelled him ahead just before the tape, marking a triumphant start to his quest for a potential four golds at these Games.
Former world champion Fred Kerley from the United States claimed the bronze medal with a time of 9.81 seconds, narrowly edging out South Africa’s Akani Simbine.
The atmosphere at Stade de France was electric, heightened by dramatic music and fervent crowd support. All eight finalists crossed the finish line within 0.12 seconds of Lyles—a testament to the intense competition and high caliber of the event.
The race did not go as planned for Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Louie Hinchliffe, who were unable to reach the final.
Reigning champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy faced an unexpected defeat, finishing out of the medals, while another Jamaican talent, Oblique Seville, crossed the line last in 9.91 seconds.
Once the official results flashed across the screen, a jubilant Lyles celebrated, ringing the victory bell beside the track as fans cheered.
The 27-year-old, who captured three gold medals at the previous year’s World Championships, made it clear that this is just the beginning.
“You couldn’t have asked for a bigger moment,” Lyles said in an interview with BBC Sport. Reflecting on his performance, he admitted to feeling upset after the first round of the competition. “I had to take every round as it was and I came with aggression. I ran 9.83 in the semi-final, showing I was ready.”
Looking to the future, Lyles hinted at more excitement to come in the next events, stating, “I hope you guys like Noah because I’ve got a lot more coming!”
