Noah Lyles is formally the quickest man in the world.

Albeit not by very a lot.

The American showman ran a private better of 9.79 seconds (technically, it was 9.784)—ending simply 0.005 seconds forward of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson—to safe his first Olympic gold medal. He’s America’s first gold medalist in the 100 meters in 20 years since Justin Gatlin received on the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Noah Lyles wins Olympic gold in the lads’s 100m with an EPIC end. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/12qSEeubje

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 5, 2024

Thompson took silver with a 9.789. Fred Kerley, who received silver in the Tokyo Olympics, added a bronze to his resume with a private finest time of 9.81. Five of the highest six instances had been private bests, a season finest, or a nationwide report. Oblique Seville ran a 9.91 and completed final.

The 27-year-old stated that earlier than he left for Paris, one among his physio guys assured him this race could be a squeaker.

“He said, ‘This is how close first and second are going to be,’” Lyles recounted as he pinched his thumb and forefinger collectively in order that they had been virtually touching. “I can’t believe how right he was.”

For these confused as to why Noah Lyles was awarded Gold as a substitute of Thompson, although Thompson’s foot crossed 1st:

The clock stops when your torso crosses the road *not* 1st physique half. Noah leans w/ his chest, whereas Thompson subtly concaves his chest. That was the distinction pic.twitter.com/13WqNsjrvm

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) August 4, 2024

Computers confirmed Lyles leaned ahead—his torso needed to cross the end line—to cross the road five-thousandths of a second quicker than Thompson.

Before the ultimate outcomes had been posted, Lyles informed reporters he thought it was Thompson who completed first, not him.

“I was like, oh man, I’m really gonna have to swallow my pride, which I don’t have a problem doing. Respect deserves respect, and everybody in the field, to be honest, came out knowing that they could win this race.”

Noah Lyles with a POWERFUL message after profitable his first Olympic gold medal pic.twitter.com/hNpJtrXby4

— ESPN (@espn) August 5, 2024

Previously, Lyles talked about wanting extra spirited competitors together with his cohorts. More trash-talking. More races. More of one of the best going through off.

“Everybody has their own vibe. I’m a showman,” Lyles declared in the documentary collection Sprint on Netflix.

“I feel like almost an artistic director. You have all these other athletes as stars, rock stars, popular wherever they go. Track and field needs to be the same. And I’m not gonna be happy until I see that accomplished.”

And it’s not simply trash speak together with his monitor and subject opponents. Lyles and the NBA—gamers and followers—have had some beef since he spoke ultimately 12 months’s World Championships in which he received the 100 and 200.

“World champions of what?!”

USA sprinter Noah Lyles calls out the NBA for labelling their winners as ‘world champions’ pic.twitter.com/MAaBLBrOj4

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) August 29, 2023

Lyles mocked the league’s labeling of its NBA Finals winners as “world champions” by brazenly asking, “World champion of what? The United STATES?”

“That ain’t the world,” he continued amid laughter from reporters. “That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they’re represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA.”

NBA gamers and media didn’t discover Lyles’ ridicule so amusing. They argued that the league contains one of the best basketball gamers from across the globe and is subsequently one of the best hoops competitors on the planet regardless of not being an official world championship.

Lyles’ feedback sparked a firestorm of criticism and clap-backs. Kevin Durant tweeted: “Somebody help this brother.” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith referred to as Lyles “flagrantly ignorant.”

Fast ahead to Saturday and the beginning of the lads’s 100 competitors at Stade de France. Lyles completed second in his first-round warmth, and his many detractors tweeted their delight about his potential downfall in Paris. He took second once more in his semifinal early Sunday, giving his critics extra hope.

Lol na he an Olympic gold medalist. He can speak for all times https://t.co/f18joDmXRj

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) August 4, 2024

Lyles ended up having the final snort. And he has the prospect to win three extra golds to match Carl Lewis’ monitor and subject report of 4 golds on the 1984 Olympic Games. He’ll be an excellent greater favourite to win his subsequent occasion—the 200 meters.

“I’ll be winning,” Lyles assured. “None of them is winning. When I come off the turn, they will be depressed.” Lyles was referring to his opponents in the 200. But we don’t assume Lyles plans on consuming any of his phrases anytime quickly.

“I’m a true believer that the moment isn’t bigger than me,” Lyles stated on Netflix. “The moment was made for me.”