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The legendary Jamaican sprinter has revealed who he thinks will win the men's 100m race at the Paris Olympic games this August.
Jamaican sprint legend Asafa Powell has revealed who he thinks will clinch the gold medal in the men’s 100m race at the upcoming Olympic games in Paris, France this August.
Powell, who set the 100 meters world record twice between June 2005 and May 2008 with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds, praised Lyles' speed and recent performances. Powell himself boasts a personal best of 9.72 seconds, ranking fourth on the all-time list of men's 100-meter athletes.
By 2016, he had broken the ten-second barrier 97 times, more than any other athlete, and became an Olympic champion as part of Jamaica's 4 x 100 meters relay team.
Speaking on his podcast, The Powells, Powell discussed the current competitive landscape of the 100m race.
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“It’s anyone’s race but I think the favorite is definitely Noah Lyles. He is the fastest man in the world and he won the World Championships, so people are expecting him to win the Olympics, but it is very wide open,” Powell said.
Since Usain Bolt retired in 2017, the 100m race has not had a clear favorite, with various sprinters clinching world titles and Olympic medals, but none consistently dominating.
Lyles, Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Trayvon Bromell, and Kenny Bednarek are among the American runners aiming to bring the Olympic gold back to the USA for the first time in 20 years.
European and African sprinters, including Italy's Marcell Jacobs and the African trio of Ferdinand Omanyala, Akani Simbine, and Letsile Tebogo, are also strong contenders.
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Powell highlighted the diversity and increased competition in the current sprinting scene.
“Before, you only used to have US and Jamaican sprinters out there. Seven of the eight were dominated by athletes from both countries, and maybe Trinidad and Tobago,” Powell continued.
“Now, you have top sprinters from Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Great Britain, Canada, and more. It is such an open field. There won’t be a sweep but it will be a great race.”
As the Olympic Games approach, Powell offered motivational advice to aspiring gold medalists.
“Do not overthink. Do not put too much pressure on yourself going in. You might be the favorite, but do not overwork yourself trying to get it right.
“ If you did not get it right months before, you will not get it right in the warm-up, so it might happen on the track, in the race, but do not overwork yourself. Just do your best, be confident and trust your own talent and coach, and you will be fine.”
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