Noah Lyles emerged victorious in the men’s 100-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, breaking a two-decade dry spell for the Americans.
At 27 years old, Lyles clocked in at 9.784 seconds, narrowly defeating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second to claim the gold medal. Fred Kerley, another American, secured third place with a time of 9.81 seconds.
David J. Phillip/AP
Lyles marks the first American to clinch Gold in the men’s 100-meter sprint since 2004 when Justin Gatlin achieved the feat in 9.850 seconds.
The United States is now tied with China for the most gold medals at 19, yet the U.S. leads in the total Olympic medal count with 71.
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Sunday’s victory also marked a personal best for Lyles, who is anticipated to excel later this week in the men’s 200-meter final, his stronger event. Lyles aims to emulate Jamaican Usain Bolt as the latest sprinter to conquer both the 100-meter and 200-meter Olympic races.
The men’s final took place a day following Julien Alfred’s triumph in the women’s 100-meter event in 10.72 seconds, earning Saint Lucia its inaugural Olympic medal. It also signified the widest victory margin in the women’s 100-meter race since the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce secured gold for Jamaica.
