Noah Lyles Triumphs in Photo-Finish for Men’s 100m Gold
Lyles Edges Out Thompson by Five Thousandths of a Second to Claim Victory in Paris
The Impressive TimesParis, August 5, 2024: World champion Noah Lyles clinched gold in the men’s Olympic 100m final in Paris, clocking 9.79 seconds in a photo-finish on Sunday. Lyles edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just five thousandths of a second, both recording a rounded-up time of 9.79 seconds. Lyles’ official time was 9.784, while Thompson’s was 9.789.
This victory makes Lyles the first American to win the event since Justin Gatlin in 2004. “It’s the one I wanted,” said Lyles, celebrating his personal best. Thompson, the fastest man this year with a 9.77-second record, admitted he wasn’t “fresh enough” over the final 30 meters.
US teammate Fred Kerley secured bronze in 9.81 seconds, narrowly beating South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who clocked 9.82 seconds. Defending champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy finished fifth in 9.85 seconds.
Starting in lane seven, Lyles overcame an average start to find his stride and dip for the line alongside Thompson, thrilling the crowd. The photo-finish confirmed Lyles as the gold medallist, allowing him to move past the disappointment of a 200m bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. Confident about the 200m event, Lyles said, “That’s my better event, and now that I’ve got a new PR in the 100, I’m ready to take it to the 200.”
No Comments: