PARIS GAMES 2024: US clinches men’s gold in 100m
By ABIRHIRE THOMAS
US sprinter and 2023 world champion Noah Lyles clinched the men’s 100m gold of the 2024 Olympics Sunday night, racing to a personal best of 9.79 seconds to photofinish with Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson.
Nyles became first American, male or female, to win the event since Justin Gatlin won in the 2004 Athens Games.
Kishane Thompson settled for silver also with 9.79, while Fred Kerley of the USA took bronze in 9.81s. South Africa’s Akani Simbine was forth with a close 9.82s.
Defending champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy was fifth in 9.85s, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo sixth in 9.86s, American Kenny Bednarek seventh in 9.88s and Jamaican Oblique Seville eighth in 9.91s in an astonishing race.
Starting in lane seven, outside Seville and inside Tebogo, Lyles got off to an average start but was soon into his stride pattern.
Head tucked down through to the 40-metre mark, the American opened up, but the whole field pushed him all the way.
As Lyles dipped for the line with Thompson charging alongside him, the crowd erupted and a photo-finish was called before Lyles was confirmed as gold medallist.
