Noah Lyles expressed his exhilaration after clinching the gold medal in the 100m at the Olympics, describing the experience as a “rollercoaster.” He acknowledged the significance of his victory, emphasizing that only one win matters and that it should be the last one.
Kishane Thompson, who finished closely behind Lyles, shared that Lyles had remarked to him after crossing the finish line, “Hey Kishane, I think you got it done.” However, a review of the finish confirmed that Lyles had indeed won, as his torso crossed the finish line ahead of Thompson’s. Olympic regulations state that the winner is determined by which athlete’s torso reaches the finish line first, disregarding feet or head.
For Lyles, that singular word—gold—summed up his triumph on Sunday evening. Thompson reflected on the race, noting his impatience might have held him back, and acknowledged that Jamaica would have preferred him to win gold. Despite his disappointment, he praised the overall competition and recognized the efforts of all athletes involved.
The race broke several records, according to World Athletics. It marked the closest finish in a global championship 100m event, with just a 0.12-second gap between the winner and the eighth-place runner. Additionally, it was the first time in history that a wind-legal men’s race featured eight runners completing the distance in under 10 seconds.