Lyles secures a sensational 100m gold with a nail-biting margin of 0.005 seconds

US sprint sensation Noah Lyles claimed the Olympic 100m title at Paris 2024 with a breathtaking win, finishing just five-thousandths of a second ahead of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a dramatic photo finish.

Lyles surged past his competitors in the race’s final stretch, clocking a personal best of 9.79 seconds. Despite Thompson leading for much of the race, Lyles executed a spectacular finish to begin his quest for a potential four gold medals at these Games.

Former world champion Fred Kerley of the United States secured bronze with a time of 9.81 seconds, narrowly beating South Africa’s Akani Simbine. After an intense buildup at Stade de France, accompanied by dramatic music and a charged atmosphere, all eight finalists finished within 0.12 seconds of Lyles, showcasing an extraordinary race.

Italy’s reigning champion, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, and Jamaica’s emerging talent, Oblique Seville, were edged out of the medals, with Seville finishing last in 9.91 seconds.

In the end, Lyles, who excels on the grandest stages and won three gold medals at last year’s World Championships, celebrated his triumph with gusto as the official results appeared on the big screen. The 27-year-old rang the victory bell by the trackside and set his sights on further successes in the 200m and relay events.

“You couldn’t have asked for a bigger moment,” Lyles told BBC Sport, reflecting on his performance. “I had to take each round as it came. I was a bit disappointed after the first round, so I came out with aggression and ran 9.83 in the semi-final. I hope you all like Noah because there’s more to come!”