Current:Home > InvestNoah Lyles wins Olympic 100 by five-thousandths of a second, among closest finishes in Games history-LoTradeCoin
Noah Lyles wins Olympic 100 by five-thousandths of a second, among closest finishes in Games history
View Date:2024-12-24 11:22:34
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Noah Lyles won the Olympic 100 meters by .005 seconds Sunday, waiting some 30 seconds after the finish of an excruciatingly close sprint to find out he’d beaten Kishane Thompson of Jamaica.
The word “Photo” popped up on the scoreboard after Lyles and Thompson dashed to the line. Lyles paced the track with his hands draped over his head. Finally, the numbers came up. Lyles won in 9.784 seconds to edge out the Jamaican by five-thousandths of a tick of the clock.
America’s Fred Kerley came in third at 9.81. The top seven all finished within .09 of each other.
This was the closest 1-2 finish in the 100 since at least Moscow in 1980 — or maybe even ever. Back then, Britain’s Allan Wells narrowly beat Silvio Leonard in an era when the electronic timers didn’t go down into the thousandths of a second.
Thank goodness they do now.
Lyles became the first American to win the marquee event in Olympic track since Justin Gatlin in 2004.
The 9.784 also marks a personal best for Lyles, who has been promising to add his own brand of excitement to track and certainly delivered this time.
He will be a favorite later this week in the 200 meters — his better race — and will try to join Usain Bolt as the latest runner to win both Olympic sprints.
For perspective, the blink of an eye takes, on average, .1 second, which was 20 times longer than the gap between first and second in this one.
What was the difference? Maybe Lyles’ closing speed and his lean into the line. He and Thompson had two of the three slowest bursts from the blocks, and Thompson had what sufficed for a “lead” at the halfway point.
But this would take more than 10 seconds to decide. When Lyles learned he’d won it, he pulled off his name tag and raised it to the sky, then brought his hands to his side and pointed at the camera.
Yes, he’s the World’s Fastest Man. Just not by a lot.
___
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
veryGood! (28)
Related
- Taking stock of bonds: Does the 60/40 rule still have a role in retirement savings?
- Milton’s storm surge is a threat that could be devastating far beyond the Tampa Bay region
- Chipotle brings back ‘Boorito’ deal, $6 burritos on Halloween
- Robert Saleh was reportedly 'blindsided' by being fired as Jets head coach
- Taking stock of bonds: Does the 60/40 rule still have a role in retirement savings?
- 2 plead not guilty to assaulting ex-NY governor. Defense says they aimed to defuse conflict
- Supreme Court rejects R. Kelly's child sexual abuse appeal, 20-year sentence stands
- Tropicana Field transformed into base camp ahead of Hurricane Milton: See inside
- Denver district attorney is investigating the leak of voting passwords in Colorado
- Philadelphia judge receives unpaid suspension for his political posts on Facebook
Ranking
- Karol G addresses backlash to '+57' lyric: 'I still have a lot to learn'
- Love Is Blind's Amber Pike and Matt Barnett Expecting First Baby
- News media don’t run elections. Why do they call the winners?
- West Virginia lawmakers OK bills on income tax cut, child care tax credit
- 2 dead in explosion at Kentucky factory that also damaged surrounding neighborhood
- Bring your pets to church, Haitian immigrant priest tells worshippers. ‘I am not going to eat them.’
- Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe's Daughter Ava Phillippe Reveals How to Pronounce Her Last Name
- The hunt for gasoline is adding to Floridians’ anxiety as Milton nears
Recommendation
-
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
-
Georgia university leaders ask NCAA to ban transgender women from sports
-
Ryan Seacrest Reveals His Workouts and Diet Changes to Feel 29 Again
-
Texas now top seed, Notre Dame rejoins College Football Playoff bracket projection
-
Cameron Brink set to make Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut
-
Robert Saleh was reportedly 'blindsided' by being fired as Jets head coach
-
Yes, Glitter Freckles Are a Thing: Here's Where to Get 'Em for Football or Halloween
-
October Prime Day 2024 Sell-Out Risks: 24 Best Deals from Crest, Laneige & More You Really Need to Grab