A pulsating 100m men’s final in Paris on Sunday saw Noah Lyles of the United States claim Olympic gold with a new personal best time of 9.79 (9.784) seconds in one of the closest races ever witnessed in all competitions.
Lyles finished just 0.005 seconds ahead of second placed Kishane Thompson of Jamaica who also clocked 9.79 seconds officially (9.789), while American Fred Kerley took bronze with a season’s best time of 9.81 seconds.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine lost out on a podium finish, settling for fourth spot after clocking 9.82 seconds to set a new National Record.
Another African, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, finished sixth with a National Record time of 9.86 seconds – just 0.01 seconds behind Tokyo 2020 gold medal winner Lamont Marcell Jacobs.
Lyles’ win means Team USA have won the men’s 100m race for the first time at the Olympics since the 2004 Games held in Greek capital, Athens. The race is also the first photo finish at the Olympics in 44 years.
“My sports therapist told me you need to let go, you’re holding on. Let go and release it. I hope you guys like Noah because I got a lot more coming,” the 27-year-old athlete said after his electric race.