In a thrilling conclusion to the Olympic 100 meters final on Sunday, Noah Lyles emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, winning the gold medal by just five thousandths of a second. This win marks the United States’ first gold in the 100 meters in two decades.
The final was nothing short of spectacular, with a blanket finish that had the stadium on edge. The scoreboard initially displayed a photo finish for the top seven athletes, underscoring the intense competition.
Ultimately, Noah Lyles was declared the winner with a personal best time of 9.79 seconds. Remarkably, he finished ahead of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who also clocked 9.79 seconds, but Lyles edged him out by a fraction.
In a race where the difference was so minuscule, had the event been 99 meters, Thompson might have been celebrating. Yet, Noah Lyles maintained his speed and executed his final dip to perfection, securing his place as both the Olympic champion and the world’s fastest man.
Noah Lyles couldn’t hide his elation as he tore off his bib and held it aloft, declaring his dominance on the track. “It’s the one I wanted,” he said. “It’s the hard battle, it’s the amazing opponents. Everybody came prepared for the fight, and I wanted to prove that I’m the man among all of them, I’m the wolf among wolves.”
Fellow American Fred Kerley clinched the bronze with a time of 9.81 seconds, while South Africa’s Akani Simbini finished fourth with a time of 9.83 seconds—a new national record for him.
Defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, despite being heavily strapped, crossed the line in fifth place with a time of 9.85 seconds. Remarkably, even eighth place was a strong performance, with Jamaica’s Oblique Seville finishing in 9.91 seconds.
This race was historic as it marked the first time eight men broke the 10-second barrier in a wind-legal 100 meters event, showcasing an unprecedented level of speed and competition.
