Noah Lyles wins first Olympic title, takes 100m gold in epic photo finish

In a photo finish now seared into Olympic history, Noah Lyles retained the title of world’s fastest man on Sunday.

Lyles edged past Jamaican Kishane Thompson to win his first Olympic gold medal in a lifetime best 9.784 seconds. Lyles crossed the finish line just five thousandths of a second ahead of Thompson, who posted a time of 9.789. The result wasn’t clear until nearly a full minute after the end of the race, as the competitors waited nervously for the details of their photo finish.

When the result finally flashed on the Stade de France videoboard, Lyles’ eyes bulged. He screamed jubilantly. He was a gold medalist. Thompson took silver, and American Fred Kerley claimed bronze, Kerley’s second career Olympic medal in the 100m.

Photo finish in the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympic Games.

World Athletics

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Lyles is the first American man to win 100m gold since Justin Gatlin at the 2004 Athens Games. For Lyles, the triumph completes a monumental turnaround after finishing seventh in the 100m at U.S. Trials in 2021. He’s now the top 100m runner on Earth for the second year in a row.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Lyles said moments after winning gold. “In the 100m, it’s my first time here on the Olympic stage. You only need one. As long as that’s the last one, that’s all that matters.”

In the ultra-tight race, Lyles was actually in last place after 30 meters. He roared back but still trailed Thompson by .01 seconds after 90 meters. But the new Olympic champion drew from his reserves to storm ahead and win by a hair in the final step.

After taking silver, Thompson told reporters in his media session that Lyles turned to him immediately after the finish and said, “Hey Kishane, I think you got it done.”

Turns out, Lyles’ instinct was wrong. A picture tells a thousand words, and the only word that mattered on Sunday night for Lyles was gold.

“I wasn’t patient enough with myself to let my speed bring me at the line,” Thompson continued. “I know that Jamaica would have wanted me to get the gold. Everybody loves winners. I would have loved to win today, but big up to the whole field.”

Three hundredths of a second behind Lyles at the line was his U.S. teammate Kerley, who has come back to the Olympic podium after his disappointing failure to qualify for the 100m final at 2023 Worlds. Kerley vowed after that shortcoming to lock in on his training, nutrition and mindset. He promised to turn himself back into a top contender. On Sunday night in Paris, he did.

“I feel that I executed as best as I could,” Kerley said. “I came here for the gold and nothing else but, hey, everybody came here for the same thing, and only one can win.

“I don’t feel frustration, because I’m facing the best in the world. At the end of the day, not many people can say they came to the Olympic Games. Whoever came off the best is the best. It’s my second time around, and I’m going off with a medal.”

But this night, this race, those 9.784 seconds, were about Lyles: Olympic champion, at last.