Noah Lyles Takes 100-Meter Gold with Narrowest Margin

American sprinter Noah Lyles secured the gold medal in the men’s 100-meter final at the Olympics on Sunday, achieving a remarkable time of 9.784 seconds. In a nail-biting finish, Lyles narrowly defeated Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second. This victory marks a significant achievement for American athletics, as Lyles becomes the first U.S. runner to win gold in the 100 meters in 20 years. The race concluded with a dramatic photo finish, necessitating a thorough review to determine the winner. Once the results confirmed Lyles’ triumph, he celebrated exuberantly and addressed the camera with the triumphant words, “America, I told you,” as reported by NBC News.

Team USA’s Fred Kerley also made his mark in the event, securing the bronze medal with a time of 9.81 seconds. With his gold medal win, Lyles is now setting his sights on achieving a double victory at the Paris Olympics. He is poised to compete in the 200-meter sprint, scheduled to take place on Thursday. Lyles’ impressive performances at the Olympic trials in June, where he won both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints, have heightened expectations for his upcoming race.

The last American male sprinter to win gold in the 100 meters at the Olympics was Justin Gatlin, who achieved a time of 9.85 seconds in 2004. Lyles, 27, hails from Gainesville, Florida. Initially, he was set to compete in track at the University of Florida but chose to turn professional instead. In 2016, he signed an eight-year contract with Adidas. In 2023, Lyles was honored as the Male Track Athlete of the Year by World Athletics. He has also received the Jesse Owens Award three times— in 2018, 2022, and 2023—making him the second athlete ever to achieve this distinction thrice. Additionally, Lyles earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, further solidifying his status as one of the leading figures in track and field.