Janice R. Andrews
PARIS — For the first time in twenty years, an American has won the men’s 100-meter race as Noah Lyles emerged victorious in an exciting final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Lyles narrowly defeated Kishane Thompson of Jamaica by five thousandths of a second with a personal-best time of 9.79 seconds.
Lyles had been the center of attention for months, waiting for this opportunity. With confidence, he shared his aspirational aspirations for the Paris Olympics with late-night talk programs, walked the runways of Milan and Paris, and invited Netflix cameras into his life. Lyles has declared his intention to upend Usain Bolt’s legacy by setting world records and winning several gold medals in the Olympics.
On “The Tonight Show,” Lyles said to Jimmy Fallon, “Now you’re going on the Mount Rushmore.” You are now the finest of the great, I said.
Lyles got his first chance to live up to his audacious claims on Sunday night. He lined up with seven other contenders in the Olympic 100-meter final, ready to battle for the coveted title of world’s fastest man, in front of 80,000 fervent supporters at Stade de France.
Coach Lance Brauman of Lyles stated, “A showman shows up when the show’s on,” in between the semifinal and final rounds.
And Lyles did not disappoint. He energized the audience as he emerged from the tunnel, sporting red, white, and blue painted nails and white beads in his hair. Lyles shot out of the blocks, keeping just enough speed to remain competitive before taking off like a rocket as soon as the starter’s pistol went off. He leaned toward the finish line and looked carefully at the video board, praying that his efforts would be sufficient.
The Golden Age of Lyles
By the slimmest of margins, Lyles’ win was affirmed by the outcome. In the men’s 100 meters, he set a personal record with a timing of 9.79 seconds, giving the United States its first gold medal since 2004. With a season-best 9.81 seconds, U.S. competitor Fred Kerley took home the bronze, trailing only Thompson in the end. The eight runners finished within a mere 12-hundredth of a second of one another in the Olympic final, making it one of the closest ever.
“When I saw my name, I was like I didn’t do this against a slow field,” Lyles stated. “I did this against the best of the best, on the biggest stage, with the biggest pressure.”
Lyles wasn’t sure he had won at first. Thompson and Lyles were waiting for the official results when Lyles said to the Jamaican sprinter, “Kishane, you got it.”
“No, I’m not sure,” Thompson said, not knowing for sure how things would turn out.
Lyles celebrated his triumph by ripping off his bib and putting his name up for everyone to see when it was ultimately verified. He circled the track while sporting an American flag across his shoulders and celebrated with his loved ones.
Although he didn’t find out until later that Lyles had cut two-hundredths of a second off his previous personal best time, Coach Brauman was equally excited.
“That was a pretty damn close race, right?” Brauman said. “That will go down as the closest final in the history of the Olympic Games.”
Athletes to Icons
An important turning point in Lyles’ journey to become more than just a great athlete is his first Olympic medal. To succeed in track and field, one must do more than just perform well. Athletes, like Bolt, Simone Biles, and Michael Phelps, must excel on the largest platforms in order to become well-known to the general public. Lyles wants to be like them—to collect gold medals, shatter world records, and carry out valiant deeds.
Lyles’s 100-meter gold medal provides a good beginning to his Paris campaign. The 100 meters has never been easy for him, but the 200 meters is his specialty and favorite race. In the 200, he usually does well by keeping peak pace throughout the curve. Acknowledging that he started slower than other great sprinters, Lyles has put in a lot of effort to accelerate better out of the blocks without sacrificing his peak speed.
Lyles got a sluggish start in the qualifying round on Saturday and had to work hard to finish second behind Britain’s Louie Hinchcliffe. He promised himself thereafter not to undervalue his rivals once more.
Lyles boldly said, “I don’t know, but I’m going to run it,” in response to the question of what time he had to run to win the gold.
Triumphal and Redemption
Although Lyles raced quicker in the first semifinal on Sunday night, he still came in second, this time to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who set a new personal best with a timing of 9.81 seconds. The dramatic finish to Lyles’ race was built up by this effort.
Lyles was disappointed with the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. He only managed a bronze in the 200 meters and failed to qualify for the final in the 100 meters, maybe because of COVID-19, a knee injury, or other reasons. That bronze medal, which he thought was unimpressive, is now a source of inspiration.
“Yeah, I think I’m doing enough,” Lyles remarked at the Olympic Trials. “After that, I turn to face the medal and say, ‘All right, back to work.'”
Now that he has won his first Olympic gold, Lyles can finally call himself the winner he has so desperately wanted. He’s off to a brilliant start in his pursuit of greatness in Paris, and he has plenty of chances to leave his legacy intact.
The Path Ahead
Lyles’ Olympic experience in Paris is far from done. He still has the opportunity to further cement his reputation as a track and field legend in the 200 meters, which is his strongest event. His triumph in the 100 meters is evidence of his talent, perseverance, and unwavering quest for greatness.
Lyles has the chance to change history, one race at a time, as the world looks on. It’s possible that Noah Lyles may reach his peak in the Olympics in Paris, fulfilling his audacious goals and raising the bar for next sportsmen. Lyles is a gifted sprinter.
