In one of the closest finishes in Olympic history, Noah Lyles of the United States claimed the gold medal in the men’s 100-metre dash, edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere .005 seconds on Sunday. Lyles clocked a personal best of 9.784 seconds in a nail-biting race that kept the crowd at Stade de France on the edge of their seats.
As the runners crossed the finish line, the scoreboard initially displayed “Photo,” leaving Lyles and Thompson anxiously waiting for the final result. After a tense 30-second wait, Lyles was declared the winner, with Thompson earning silver. America’s Fred Kerley rounded out the podium with a bronze, finishing in 9.81 seconds.
This race marks the closest 1-2 finish in the 100-metre event since at least the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where electronic timers were not yet able to measure down to the thousandths of a second.
The victory makes Lyles the first American to win the Olympic 100-metre title since Justin Gatlin in 2004. Lyles, who has been a dominant figure in track and field this year, will now turn his attention to the 200 metres, where he is also a strong contender. He aims to join Usain Bolt as the latest sprinter to win both the 100m and 200m at the same Olympic Games.
Reflecting on the race, Canada’s Donovan Bailey, the 1996 Olympic 100m champion, called the event “incredible,” highlighting the technical precision required at this elite level of competition.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Andre De Grasse, a six-time Olympic medallist, missed qualifying for the 100-metre final for the first time in his Olympic career. De Grasse finished fifth in his semifinal heat with a season-best time of 9.98 seconds. Despite the setback, De Grasse remains optimistic about his chances in the 200 metres, his preferred event, and looks forward to competing in the relay as well.
De Grasse expressed his disappointment at not making the final but remained focused on the upcoming events. “I just gotta go out there, clear my mind, reset, and go from there,” he said.
The 29-year-old De Grasse has dealt with injuries over the past few years but received a clean bill of health in 2024. He hopes to bounce back in the 200m, where he is the defending Olympic champion.
Olympic Men’s 100-Metre Final Results:
- Gold: Noah Lyles, USA: 9.784 seconds
- Silver: Kishane Thompson, Jamaica: 9.789 seconds
- Bronze: Fred Kerley, USA: 9.81 seconds
The thrilling finish in the 100 metres sets the stage for an exciting week of track and field at the Paris 2024 Olympics.