In an electrifying finish, Noah Lyles of the USA clinched the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.The race at Stade de France in Saint-Denis was decided by just five-thousandths of a second, marking it as the closest Olympic 100-meter final in history.
Lyles, clocking a personal best of 9.79 seconds, edged out Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson, who finished with the same time but lost by the narrowest of margins. The giant screen confirmed Lyles as the winner, marking the USA’s first victory in this event in 20 years.
A Dramatic Photo Finish
Believing he had left it too late, Lyles thought Thompson had won. However, his impeccable form and perfectly timed dip secured his victory. Had the race been just one meter shorter, Thompson would have been celebrating his fourth Jamaican men’s 100 meter win in the last five Olympics. Instead, Lyles added Olympic gold to his world title, ripping his name bib from his shirt and holding it aloft in celebration.
Historic Performance
“This is the one I wanted. It’s the tough competition and the incredible opponents,” Lyles stated. “I didn’t achieve this against a weak field—I competed against the best of the best, on the biggest stage, under the highest pressure.”
The race saw an unprecedented level of competition, with all eight finalists breaking the 10-second barrier. American Fred Kerley secured the bronze with a time of 9.81 seconds. Akani Simbine of South Africa took fourth place, achieving a national record with a time of 9.83 seconds.
Related – 2024 Olympics: Noah Lyles Secures First 100-Meter Gold for U.S. in 20 Years
Remarkable Times Across the Board
Defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, despite being heavily strapped, finished fifth with a time of 9.85 seconds. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also set a national record with a time of 9.86 seconds, finishing sixth. Even the eighth-place finisher, Oblique Seville of Jamaica, recorded a time of 9.91 seconds.
Reflecting on his victory, Lyles confessed, “I didn’t think I had won. I felt I dipped too early and missed the timing. I even told Kishane while we were waiting, ‘I think you got this one.’ But then my name appeared, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I actually did it.'”
Noah Lyles’ victory not only reaffirms his status as the fastest man in the world but also ends a two-decade drought for the USA in the Olympic 100 meters, making it a historic moment in athletics.
Key Highlights:
- Event: Men’s 100 meter final at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics
- Winner: Noah Lyles (USA) – 9.79 seconds
- Runner-up: Kishane Thompson (Jamaica) – 9.79 seconds
- Bronze: Fred Kerley (USA) – 9.81 seconds
- Historic Achievement: First Olympic 100 meter final where all eight finalists broke the 10-second barrier
Notable Performances:
- Akani Simbine (South Africa) – 9.83 seconds (national record)
- Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) – 9.86 seconds (national record)
This thrilling race will be remembered for its extraordinary competitiveness and the incredible talent showcased by the athletes.
