Olympics: Noah Lyles seals 100m gold in epic race as stars learn of winner on big screen | Other | Sport

Noah Lyles produced an incredible late surge to pip Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson to gold in the men’s 100m race at the 2024 Olympics. The 27-year-old set a new personal best to reign supreme over a rapid eight-man field, setting Paris’ Stade de France alight with an electric showing.

The runners kept their composure after an unwanted three-minute delay before being called to their blocks at the start line, but it was Lyles who stole the show.

Thompson looked destined to establish himself as the world’s fastest man on his maiden Olympics appearance after starting strongly.

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He produced a 9.77 at the Jamaican Olympic trials and a 9.80 in the semi-finals – the quickest in Paris ahead of the final.

But Lyles – the reigning world champion – came out on top after an outstanding photo finish, clinching gold by five-thousandths of a second. Lyles and Thompson had to wait to watch the reply back on the big screen to find out who had come out on top, it was that close.

Last year, the American superstar became the first man since Usain Bolt in 2015 to be named world champion in the 100m and 200m.

Many didn’t back him to win gold after he went slow in the heats and finished second behind Oblique Seville in the semi-finals.

However, Lyles saved his best for when it mattered most to achieve glory in the French capital, triumphing in what was a blistering race all around.

After silver-winner Thompson, the USA’s Fred Kerley followed up his silver at Tokyo 2020 by picking up bronze with a seasonal best of 9.81.

South Africa’s Akani Simbine, Italy’s reigning champion Marcell Jacobs, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the USA’s Kenneth Bednarek and Jamaica’s Seville completed the running order.

Lyle’s triumph makes him the first American to win Olympic gold in the men’s 100m in 20 years since Justin Gatlin’s success at Athens 2004.

Between Gatlin in Athens and Jacobs in Tokyo, Bolt dominated the event by winning three on the bounce in Beijing, London and Rio.

On BBC1 commentary, a breathless Steve Cram was in disbelief, saying: “They’re watching, they’re looking. I’ve never seen a finish this close.

“That’s it. Lyles has his gold. Unbelievable. Thompson can only look on. Lyles didn’t even have a medal 10m out.

“He didn’t have a hope of winning. He came fast, he came hard, and in the end, by the smallest of margins, he has taken the Olympic title.

“Beaten in the heats, beaten in the semi-final, but he’s won the one that mattered most.”