Noah Lyles stormed to victory in 9.79 seconds in the men’s Olympic 100m final in Paris on Sunday. The race, marked by a dramatic photo-finish, saw Lyles edge out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere five thousandths of a second.
Both athletes clocked 9.79 seconds, but Lyles’ winning time was officially recorded as 9.784 to Thompson’s 9.789. This victory makes Lyles the first American to win the event since Justin Gatlin in 2004.
“It’s the one I wanted,” Lyles said. “It’s the hard battle, it’s the amazing opponents. I wanted to prove that I’m the man amongst all of them.”
The race kept spectators on edge, with Lyles initially uncertain of his win. “I was fully prepared to see [Thompson’s] name pop up,” he admitted. “To see my name pop up, I’m like goodness gracious. I’m incredible.”
Lyles’ teammate Fred Kerley claimed bronze with a time of 9.81 seconds. Kerley, a previous world champion, expressed no frustration, saying, “Whoever came off the best is the best.”
The race, held at Stade de France, featured an electrifying atmosphere with a light show and booming music. Lyles’ victory was a redemption moment following his bronze medal in the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics. Confidently looking ahead, he declared, “100 percent,” in anticipation of the 200m event, where he is a three-time world champion.
