Noah Lyles of the USA became the fastest man in the world after winning the closest-ever Olympic 100 meters final by five thousandths of a second on Sunday, securing the title for the United States for the first time in 20 years.
In a dramatic finish, Lyles initially thought he had left it too late to overtake the powerful Kishane Thompson. However, the giant screen confirmed Lyles as the winner with a personal best of 9.79 seconds, the same time as the Jamaican, but ahead by the width of a vest.
Had the race been 99 meters, Thompson would have been celebrating a fourth Jamaican men’s 100m win in five Olympics. However, Lyles maintained his form superbly and timed his dip perfectly to claim Olympic gold, adding to his world title.
Lyles ripped his name bib from his shirt and held it aloft, his red, white, and blue varnished fingernails gleaming, announcing himself as the fastest man in the world, just as he had always promised.
American Fred Kerley took bronze in 9.81 seconds, while Akani Simbine of South Africa finished fourth with a national record time of 9.83 seconds, marking his sixth finish in the top four or five at global championships.
Defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, heavily strapped, finished fifth in 9.85 seconds. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also set a national record with 9.86 seconds in sixth place.
The quality of the race was such that eighth-placed Oblique Seville of Jamaica clocked 9.91 seconds.
