Noah Lyles is an Olympic champion for the very first time after storming home to glory by the thinnest of margins in the men’s 100m final.
The 27-year-old, who had to settle for a second place finish in the semifinal race earlier on Sunday, swept up his first Olympic gold in 9.79 secs, edging out Kishane Thompson, of Jamaica, by five thousandths of a second.
It marked the greatest moment of the Lyles’ career, following a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Fellow compatriot Fred Kerley claimed bronze in 9.81 secs.
Lyles – the first time American to have won gold since Justin Gatlin in 2004 – raised his arms in triumph to wild cheers from the packed crowd at the Stade de France as his name appeared at the top of the standings. He ripped his bib name from his shirt and held it aloft, announcing himself, as he had always promised, as the fastest man in the world.
Noah Lyles became the first American in 20 years to have won the men’s 100M final on Sunday
He edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in Paris, coming in with a time of 9.79 seconds
‘It’s the one I wanted, it’s the hard battle, it’s the amazing opponents,’ said Lyles after his epic finish.
‘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.’
The Gainesville, Florida, native made a slower start out of the blocks than his rivals but accelerated through the finish line, outpacing Thompson right at the death of the race.
Akani Simbini of South Africa was fourth, making it a remarkable six fourth or fifth finishes in global championships, albeit with the consolation of a national record of 9.83.
Defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, heavily strapped, finished fifth in 9.85 and, such was the quality of the race, that eighth-placed Oblique Seville of Jamaica still clocked 9.91 seconds.
It was the first time eight men have broken 10 seconds in a wind-legal 100 metres race.
More to follow.
