He had set himself the main goal of bringing the Olympic 100m title back to the United States, who had been chasing it for 20 years. And Noah Lyles achieved it on Sunday, August 4, in the final of the Paris Olympics. The American took the gold medal with a time of 9”79.
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From our special correspondent at the Stade de France,
He dreamed of it, he did it. Noah Lyles is the new boss of the 100m. A year ago, he won the title of world champion. At the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on Sunday, August 4, he did a double whammy by snatching the title of Olympic champion by a hair’s breadth. The United States had been waiting a long time to return to the throne. And now it’s done, in JO 2024thanks to Lyles.
Arriving in Paris as the favorite, the American was a little disillusioned during the weekend. His entry into the series was sluggish. Then, his compatriot Sha’Carri Richardson only took silver on Saturday August 3, beaten in the final by Sainte-Lucienne Julien Alfred. And during the semi-finals played at the end of the day on August 4, Noah Lyles was once again able to see that the competition was fierce.
Lyles, pressure-proof
In his own semi, the world champion was dominated by Jamaican Oblique Seville (9”81 against 9”83). And in the third half, the other danger from Jamaica, Kishane Thompson, set the best time of the participants (9”80). Enough to bring back bad memories in the United States, systematically beaten in the major events by Jamaica of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake & co between 2008 and 2016.
When he entered the track at 9:50 pm in the Saint-Denis stadium, Noah Lyles nevertheless appeared true to himself: mischievous, a little mocking, a stage animal capable of electrifying the crowds. An exuberance that contrasted with the seriousness and concentration of the other finalists. But perhaps, after all, this is just his way of getting into his race…
Thompson beaten in the last meters and by a thousandth of a second
At the starting gun for the 100m, Lyles started less well than Thompson. As is often the case for the American, who was more comfortable in the 200m. For a very long part of the race, Kishane Thompson led the debates. But in the last few meters, Noah Lyles, who had a very good finish, gradually came back, until he crossed the line… at the same time as Thompson.
At that moment, it was impossible to tell who had won. In the stands, all heads – including those of the sprinters – turned to the giant screen where it was indicated that the classification would be decided by photo finish. For a few moments, bets were on. So, Thompson or Lyles?
Technology provided the answer: both rockets ran in 9”79, and it was down to thousandths of a second that they were separated. And the gold medal was therefore around the neck of Noah Lyles, winner in 9”79 and 784 thousandths, while Kishane Thompson took silver in 9”79 and 789 thousandths (new personal record). Tense in the last 20 meters, the Jamaican failed by a hair’s breadth. By five thousandths. It was tough, but we will have to count on him in the future.
All runners under 10″
America had been waiting for an Olympic 100m champion for 20 years. And yet, in 2004 in Athens, it was a certain Justin Gatlin who won. The same one who was later banned for four years for doping, which some observers had a hard time digesting. Now, Uncle Sam’s country has a new reference. His name is Noah Lyles.
Behind the champion and Thompson, the bronze medal went to the American Fred Kerley in 9”81. Once again, the South African Akani Simbine finished just off the podium in 9”82, in 4th place, as in 2021. The Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs, gold in Tokyo, was 5th in 9”85. The Botswanan Letsile Tebogo beat his personal best with a time of 9”86 and took 6th place. The American Kenneth Bednarek was 7th in 9”88 and the Jamaican Oblique Seville was 8th in 9”91. All the finalists ran in less than 10 seconds, a first at the Olympic Games.
This may be just the first of Lyles’ feats, as the speed king is also aiming for the 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m titles.
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