Noah Lyles captured his first Olympic gold in a thrilling and historically fast men’s 100m final at Paris 2024.
Lyles, who previously won a bronze in the 200m at Tokyo 2020, clocked a personal best of 9.79 seconds, edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just five-thousandths of a second in a photo finish.
Lyles’ remarkable win came despite being in last place with 30 meters to go. He finished in 9.784 seconds, while Thompson recorded 9.789 seconds.
The bronze went to American Fred Kerley, who finished close behind in 9.81 seconds.
The race was so competitive that all but one competitor ran under 9.88 seconds. Jamaica’s Oblique Seville finished with a time of 9.91 seconds.
Lyles’ victory marks the first time an American has won the 100m Olympic gold since Justin Gatlin in Athens 2004.
The Florida-born star also won three golds at last year’s World Championships, solidifying his place among the sprinting elite.
Ghanaian sprinters Benjamin Azamati and Abdul Rasheed-Saminu who had made it to the semi final could not get to run in the final.
