In a race that will go down in history as possibly the greatest 100m Olympic final of all time, Noah Lyles found himself in a challenging position right from the start. As the gun fired, Lyles reacted in 0.178 seconds—a respectable time, but in the world of elite sprinting, where every millisecond counts, it left him trailing. His main rival, fellow American Fred Kerley, had a quicker reaction time, putting Lyles at an early disadvantage.
Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, who came into the race as the fastest man of the year, also had a slow start, reacting in 0.176 seconds. However, Thompson's prowess as a 100m specialist quickly became evident. With his powerful stride and long legs, he surged into the lead at the 30-meter mark, a position he maintained by virtue of his explosive drive phase. Meanwhile, Lyles, better known for his 200m exploits, was still at the back of the pack. His strength lies in his top-end speed, but it takes him a while to reach it, making his slow start a significant hurdle.
As the race progressed, Lyles began to close the gap. Between the 50m and 60m marks, he accelerated dramatically, moving from eighth to third as he hit his peak speed of 43.6 km/hr (27.1 mph). At this crucial juncture, Thompson and Kerley had already reached their top speeds and were starting to strain, their faces showing the tension of maintaining their pace. Thompson, in his first Olympic final, visibly struggled as he approached the finish line, his muscles tightening under the immense pressure.
Reflecting on his performance, Thompson acknowledged, “I wasn’t patient enough with myself to let my speed bring me to the line in the position that I know I could have gone to. But I have learned from it.” In contrast, Lyles remained composed, showcasing his experience and speed endurance—a trait that has made him a dominant force in the 200m. He kept his form smooth and efficient, a testament to his ability to handle the pressure of big races.
Lyles had one final task: executing a perfect lean at the finish. The photo finish captured the intensity of the moment, with Lyles' chest just barely crossing the line ahead of Thompson's. Despite Thompson’s right toe technically crossing first, it was Lyles' chest that counted, securing him the gold by a mere five thousandths of a second—a margin quicker than the blink of an eye.
Reflecting on the race, Lyles admitted he initially thought Thompson had won. “I went up to him while we were waiting and said, ‘I think you’ve got that, good going’, and then my name popped up and I’m like ‘oh my gosh, I’m amazing’.” This victory not only marked Lyles' triumph over seven other finalists but also ended a 20-year drought for American men in the Olympic 100m, last won by Justin Gatlin in Athens.
Lyles faced immense pressure leading up to the race, with high expectations from fans and celebrities alike. “I had so many commercials going around and so many people, like Snoop Dogg, saying that I’m going to be the one. It’s definitely pressure. Saying that the moment is not bigger than me, that the moment was meant for me, constantly saying that it’s going to be the thing I need.” His victory, filled with drama and excitement, was a perfect showcase of his talent and resilience.
Michael Johnson, a legend in his own right, described it as the greatest 100m final he had ever witnessed. “We had this amazing race where you could throw a blanket over the finishing line,” he remarked. “We didn’t even know who won for a few minutes.” Indeed, this race will be remembered not just for its thrilling finish but for the incredible performances of all the athletes involved.