The electrifying sprint sensation Noah Lyles, 27, has taken the Olympic stage by storm yet again. Yesterday, the world witnessed a historic show in the 100-meter race at the Paris Olympic Games, where eight of the fastest men competed in a race that will be remembered for its unprecedented speed and incredibly close finish.
From the moment the starting gun fired, it was clear that this race would be one for the ages. As he stepped onto the track, all eyes were on Lyles as the athlete made a promise to his country to deliver a golden performance that will be remembered for generations. “I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!” Lyles tweeted.
The race included some of the sport’s most formidable sprinters: Kishane Thompson, Fred Kerley, Akani Simbane, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, Letsile Tebogo, Kenneth Bednarek, Oblique Seville, all of whom completed the race in under 10 seconds and had the potential to take the top spot.
Lyles faced fierce competition from Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who matched him stride by strider down the track the whole time. Both athletes were neck and neck, with neither willing to give an inch. Among the elite athletes was Team USA’s Noah Lyles, who claimed the gold medal in the race so close that it came down to five-thousandths of a second.
As the race continued, it became a two-man battle between Lyles and Thompson and the tension was visible as the finish line approached. In the final meters, Lyles managed to find the last burst of speed, leaning forward to touch the finish line first. As the ending was so close, it was merely impossible to determine who won by video, and the results had to be confirmed by a photo finish. Noah Lyles clocked a finishing time of 9.79 (.784) seconds and Kishane Thompson finished in 9.79 (.789) seconds.
After Thomspon, the competition remained close. In third place was Fred Kerley for Team USA with a time of 9.81; in fourth, Akani Simbane finished in 9.82 seconds for South Africa, and Lamont Marcell Jacobs finished in 9.85 seconds for Italy. The race’s incredible speed was a must-see performance for the world, as the video has 1.6 million views on YouTube, which shows their dedication to the sport and the advancements in training. For the first time in history, all eight finalists finished under 10 seconds, highlighting the exceptional talent on the track.
Noah Lyles’ victory not only added another illustrious chapter to his career, but this win made him the first American man to win in 20 years. “At the end of the day, I’m an artist. An artist loves to have a project, and they love for the project to be seen,” Lyles told ESSENCE. This gold medal is not just an honor to his hard work and talent, but serves as an inspiration to aspiring track stars around the world. Lyles relentless pursuit of excellence and perseverance exemplifies the epitome of athletic achievement and made this 100-meter race one to never forget.