AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the official times flashed on the big scoreboard atop Stade de France, American sprinter Noah Lyles wanted to ensure his country heard him.
"America! I told you!" he yelled into a camera in triumph after being declared the gold medal winner in the 100-meter dash by five-thousandths of a second Sunday at the Paris Olympics.
Lyles finished in 9.784 seconds, edging Jamaica's Kisane Thompson in a photo finish to claim the first gold for the U.S. in the premier sprint in 20 years. Thompson was credited with a 9.789 for the silver medal while Fred Kerley, the U.S. runner for Taylor, Texas, claimed bronze in 9.81. Justin Gatlin was the last American to win gold in the 100, claiming the top spot at the 2004 Athens Games.
South Africa's Akani Simbine finished just off the podium in fourth with a 9.82. All eight finalists turned in times under 10 seconds.
By the naked eye, it appeared Thompson had done just enough to finish ahead of Lyles at the finish line, leaning his chest forward to cross the line. It took officials a while to figure out who won, and in the agonizing seconds after one of the most competitive Olympic 100-meter races ever, Lyles and Thompson stood next to each other to see who got the glory.
Once Lyles was announced as the winner, he ripped the bib off the front of his jersey and held it above his head so everyone could see who the world's fastest man was.
Lyles won the 2023 world championship in the 100 and the 200, and he's set up to try to complete the Olympic double in the sprints. The men's 200 prelims are scheduled for 12:55 p.m. CDT Monday. Kenny Bednark and Erriyon Knighton are the other U.S. sprinters in the 200 field.
