Lyles Brings Home 100m Gold For Team USA
Noah Lyles delivered a spectacular performance in the Olympic 100 metres final, winning by just five-thousandths of a second to claim the title for the United States for the first time in 20 years. Lyles finished in a personal best 9.79 seconds, the same time as Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, but edged out the win in a photo finish.
Initially, Lyles thought he had lost the race, believing he had mistimed his dip at the line. "I did not think I won, I didn't think I dipped at the right time, too early," he said. However, the big screen confirmed his victory, much to his surprise and delight. He celebrated by holding up his name bib and showing off his red, white, and blue fingernails.
The race was incredibly close, with all eight finalists finishing within 0.12 seconds of each other. American Fred Kerley took bronze with a time of 9.81 seconds, narrowly beating South Africa's Akani Simbine. Even eighth-placed Oblique Seville of Jamaica clocked an impressive 9.91 seconds. Defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy finished fifth, unable to defend his title in a race of such high standards.
Thompson, who led for most of the race, was disappointed but also content with his performance. "I am a bit disappointed, but I am happy at the same time," he said. Thompson arrived in Paris as the fastest man in the world this year with a time of 9.77, was the quickest in the semi-finals but couldn't maintain his lead in the final. "I wasn’t patient enough with myself to let my speed bring me at the line in the position that I know I could have gone to," he said.
Lyles' victory marks the first time an American has won the Olympic 100m title since Justin Gatlin in 2004. His win adds to his already impressive career, including three 200m world titles and a 200m bronze at the last Olympics.
Lyles, known for his showmanship and competitive spirit, has become a serious contender in the 100m. Reflecting on his performance, he said, "I hope you guys like Noah because I've got a lot more coming!" Looking ahead, Lyles aspires to achieve what only legends like Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis have done before—winning four golds at a single Games. With his 200m and relay events still to come, Lyles is well on his way to leaving a lasting legacy in the world of athletics.
