Paris Olympics: Noah Lyles Shares What He Told Kishane Thompson After Thrilling Men’s 100m Final

Newly crowned Olympic champion Noah Lyles has shared the words he whispered to Kishane Thompson after they crossed the finish line in the electrifying men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympic Games. The race, one of the most closely contested in recent memory, saw both Lyles and Thompson clock an identical time of 9.79 seconds, with mere microseconds separating them. Fred Kerley finished a close third, clocking in at 9.81 seconds.

As the athletes awaited the official results, Lyles was seen leaning over to Thompson and seemingly whispering something to him. The American sprint sensation later revealed that he initially thought Thompson had won the race.

Speaking at the post-race press conference, Lyles recounted the intense moments leading up to the finish line. “After the race, we were waiting for the names to pop up, and to be honest, I went over to him and said, ‘I think you got that one, big dog,'” Lyles said.

The dramatic finish was decided by a split-second decision on Lyles’ part. Running in lane seven, with Thompson in lane four, Lyles explained that he couldn’t see Thompson during the race. Sensing the need to secure the win, Lyles made a decisive lean forward just as they approached the finish line—a move that ultimately earned him the gold.

“He [Thompson] was out there in lane four, and I was on lane seven, so I couldn’t really see what was going on over there,” Lyles added. “I decided to keep running like I was going to win it, and something told me to lean. I was like, ‘Imma lean,’ because it was that type of race, and it was crazy.”

Kishane Thompson also reflected on the race, acknowledging how close the contest had been. The young sprinter noted that he was aware he had cleared his immediate competitors but was unsure of Lyles’ position due to their lane assignments. “It was really a close race, you know, because I couldn’t really see Noah based on the lanes that we were in. I saw that I had cleared both athletes on my immediate left and right, but I couldn’t see him,” Thompson explained.

The men’s 100m final in Paris will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most thrilling races in Olympic history, with Noah Lyles’ quick thinking and athletic prowess securing him the title of Olympic champion.