Noah Lyles has now explained how Kishane Thompson's yelling encouraged him to make such a wild entrance before the final of the 100 meter dash at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
American sprint sensation Noah Lyles has opened up about how a moment of high energy from Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson fueled his dramatic entrance and victory in the 100 meters final at the Paris Olympics.
In a nail-biting photo finish, Lyles edged out Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second, securing the gold in his fastest-ever 100m race.
Lyles, known for his charismatic showmanship, had struggled during the heats and semifinals, losing both races to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville.
16:00 - 29.09.2024
Noah Lyles explains Fred Kerley's role in hindering Kishane Thompson from snatching Olympic 100m gold
Noah Lyles has lauded US teammate Fred Kerley for playing a critical role in preventing Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson from clinching the 100m gold during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Heading into the final, he knew something had to change. During a conversation with former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson on the Night Cap show, Lyles revealed how advice from his therapist helped him adjust his mindset: “run with less aggression and more freedom.”
Initially, Lyles planned to make a unique entrance but not through the wild, animated style he eventually displayed. However, Thompson’s energetic entrance changed everything. After five sprinters had been introduced, Thompson stepped out, yelling as if to warn his competitors that he was ready to go for the gold. Lyles admitted that this unexpected move ignited a spark in him.
“We get out there, and they’re doing the intros, and you know, Kishane comes down yelling, and I’m like, ‘oh, hold on, that’s me!’” Lyles said, reflecting on the moment.
12:15 - 12.10.2024
'He doesn't respect us!' - Asafa Powell appears to aim fresh dig at Trinadian sprint legend
Asafa Powell has appeared to aim a fresh dig at Trinadian legend Ato Boldon, following the war of words that has been going on between them for quite a while now.
“But I liked it, because I love to see more personalities come up than just looking at the camera and saying ‘hi.’ It’s like, ‘nah, Noah, bring that energy, get me excited to run!’”
The energy in the stadium was electric, with Lyles describing how the Olympic atmosphere pushed him even further.
“There’s another YouTube video NBC put out where you can see us in the back of the car room, Fred [Kerley] banging on the wall, Kishane doing his yelling. I’m over here singing ‘Dreams and Nightmares,’ thinking, ‘yeah, this is the Olympic Finals!’”
10:44 - 13.10.2024
'After that race, I didn't sleep'- American icon reflects on Usain Bolt's record-breaking 100m run in 2009
The triple world champion recounts how he was shocked and couldn’t sleep the night Usain Bolt broke the 100m world record at the 2009 World Championships.
Lyles then brought his own flair to the track. He recalled jumping around, running past cameras, and hyping up the crowd before the race. “I’m yelling at the crowd, and they’re excited. I’m like, ‘yeah, this is my race now.’”
As he prepared for the race itself, Lyles leaned on his faith, repeating to himself, “God got me, God got me.” He emphasized that all the work he had put in during the months leading up to the Olympics had already prepared him. “Now, it’s just about believing in myself. It’s not about running fast times; it’s about running to win. The times will come when you win.”
Ultimately, Lyles’ focus on enjoying the moment and tapping into the energy around him helped propel him to gold, marking another incredible chapter in his sprinting career.