Home Sports America’s Fastest Man: Noah Lyles Claims Olympic Glory in the 100m Sprint

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America’s Fastest Man: Noah Lyles Claims Olympic Glory in the 100m Sprint

American sprinter Noah Lyles claimed the Olympic gold medal in a thrilling men's 100-meter final on Sunday night in Paris. Lyles stormed to victory in a photo finish, edging out his Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson by an infinitesimal margin of just 0.005 seconds. It was a breathtaking moment as Lyles added the Olympic title to his impressive repertoire, solidifying his place in the annals of sprinting history.

Administrator

11 August, 2024

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Noah Lyles sprints into the history books, claiming the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100m sprint. It’s been two decades since an American athlete, Justin Gatlin in 2004, held this title. Lyles, the charismatic 27-year-old sprinter, is now cemented as the premier American superstar in track and field, renowned for his blazing speed and viral moments.

In a thrilling blanket finish, Lyles thought he’d left his surge too late to catch the powerful Kishane Thompson. However, the giant screen proclaimed him the winner, with a personal best of 9.79 seconds, edging out the Jamaican by the width of a vest.

At the halfway mark, Lyles was still in seventh place, chasing down Thompson, who not only held the fastest time this season but also dominated the semifinal round earlier on Sunday, according to international media.

In the final strides, Lyles closed the gap on Thompson, American Fred Kerley, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine, prompting him to do something he rarely practices: dipping his shoulder at the finish.

Paris 2024 Olympics – A thrilling 100m final. Photo: Reuters

The pack of exhausted sprinters gathered at the northeastern bend of the track, breathless and awaiting the results on the big screen. Initially, it only read ‘Photo,’ indicating a photo finish, heightening the anticipation.

When the results finally appeared, they showed Lyles had won his first Olympic gold in 9.79 seconds, a personal best that aligns with his goal of winning four gold medals at the Olympics.

This victory also puts Lyles on track to become the first athlete since Usain Bolt to win both the 100m and 200m at a single Olympics, a feat Bolt achieved three times consecutively from 2008 to 2016.

Despite Thompson’s foot crossing the line first, Lyles’ powerful second-half surge allowed him to lean forward with his chest and claim the gold medal. According to Olympic rules, the clock stops when an athlete’s torso crosses the line, not their first body part to do so.

Noah Lyles celebrates his historic win. Photo: Getty Images

“I didn’t think I’d won,” Lyles said. “I didn’t think I dipped at the right time; I thought it was too early. I even went up to Kishane and said, ‘I think you got that one.’ But then my name popped up, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m amazing.'”

Fred Kerley took bronze in 9.81 seconds, while Akani Simbine of South Africa finished fourth, marking his sixth fourth- or fifth-place finish in global championships, yet still a remarkable achievement.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, heavily strapped, secured fifth place with a time of 9.85. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also set a national record, finishing sixth with a time of 9.86.

Lyles’ victory adds to his impressive resume, which includes a world championship in the 100m just 12 months ago at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where he also claimed three gold medals.