Lyles is crowned the fastest man in the world with a photo finish.
What a epic race: World champion Noah Lyles becomes Olympic champion over 100 meters. The 27-year-old from the USA sprints to gold in 9.79 seconds - and wins by a thousandth of a second over Jamaican sensation Kishane Thompson, who was also timed at 9.79 seconds.
Noah Lyles jumped up and down, roaring with joy and relief - then he tore off his starting number with his name on it and held it up to all the cameras. "Look at me, I showed everyone," he seemed to say. And indeed, Lyles put on a spectacular sprint show in the Stade de France, snatching gold in a thousandth-of-a-second finish with a strong final sprint.
Mission accomplished: With his dream run, Lyles fulfilled his promise and brought Olympic gold over 100 meters back to the USA after 20 years. The world champion ran with a personal best of 9.79 seconds in the spectacular final in Paris and was unstoppable. Behind Lyles, Kishane Thompson (9.79/Jamaica) won silver, and Fred Kerley (9.81) took bronze in the Stade de France.
Lyles had put himself under maximum pressure beforehand, saying only he, the triple world champion from Budapest, could take home gold over the most prestigious distance. "The more eyes on me, the better I am," said the 27-year-old - and he kept his word.
With his irresistible gold run and fingernails painted in the US colors, Lyles also made amends with his homeland, as the USA had to wait since 2004 for an Olympic champion over 100 meters. Back then in Athens, Justin Gatlin triumphed, then came the era of Jamaican Usain Bolt, and in Tokyo, surprise winner Marcell Jacobs (Italy) outsmarted the US boys. Now Lyles delivered what the fans wanted - and celebrated his first Olympic gold medal.
Lyles also found personal closure with the Olympics, as he struggled with the sterile atmosphere at the pandemic Games in Tokyo, missing the fans, and his depression resurfacing. He only managed bronze over 200 meters. "That's not enough," he vowed afterward. Now, impressive redemption.
In Paris, Lyles is aiming for three more golds, over 200 meters and with the relay teams over 4x100 and 4x400 meters. His goal? To become a legend and fill the void left by Usain Bolt. And Lyles could actually do it, the man from Florida has it all: charisma, charm, a love for showmanship, witty remarks - and a compelling story.
In high school, Lyles was often bullied, he had a learning disability, his parents divorced early, and his mother Keisha raised him and his sprinting brother alone, not always having enough food and money. "Once, our power was cut off," said Lyles. On top of that, he struggled with depression.
But Lyles persevered, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe calls him an "absolute rockstar." And now, Lyles is finally an Olympic champion.
Lyles' victory over 100 meters in the Olympics was a testament to his resilience, having overcome bullying, learning disabilities, and a challenging upbringing. This triumph also marked a return of Olympic gold in the 100-meter event for the USA after two decades.
At the Olympic Games, Lyles not only secured gold in the 100 meters but also showcased his prowess in athletics, setting his sights on more golds in the 200 meters and relay events, aiming to become a new legend in the sport, following in the footsteps of Usain Bolt.
