Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson has revealed how Jamaica's sprinting icon Usain Bolt inspired his career in track.
In a remarkable journey from childhood inspiration to Olympic podium, Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson, the 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist in the men’s 100m, has recently opened up about how watching Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt fueled his track career.
Thompson’s path to Olympic success is inseparably linked to Bolt, who not only set numerous records but also defined Jamaican sprinting on the global stage.
For Thompson, Bolt’s historic win in the 100m final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a defining moment.
At just seven years old, Thompson sat in front of the TV, witnessing Bolt’s unprecedented 9.69-second run, a feat that sent shockwaves across the world.
Recalling that moment in a Netflix's season 2 of the docuseries, Sprint, Thompson his first time experience witnessing the world's fastest man ever.
19:30 - 13.11.2024
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“I got a feeling like no other. The goosebumps and thrill. seeing a human being reach that height, a pinnacle of greatness. I knew that I should aspire to be greater than that," expressed Thompson.
As Bolt retired in 2016, he left an enormous legacy and, for Jamaican male athletes, a challenging void to fill on the Olympic stage.
Yet, as the world would soon discover, Thompson was on a trajectory to carry that legacy forward.
His journey took a significant leap in June 2024, when he clocked a blistering 9.77 seconds at the Jamaican Olympic trials, a performance that served as a clear signal to his competitors and fans alike.
In Paris, Thompson entered the 100m final with fierce determination, facing off against a world-class field.
In a race that left fans at the edge of their seats, he crossed the finish line alongside American sprinter Noah Lyles, both recording times of 9.79 seconds.
07:00 - 15.11.2024
'It shook my exsistence' -Why Kishane Thompson is still furious to have lost to Noah Lyles at Paris Olympic 100m final
Kishane Thompson is still unhappy with his second place finish in the final of the 100 meter race at the Paris 2024 Olympic games, where he narrowly lost to Noah Lyles, who the Jamaican believes he is 'actually faster than'.
The gold, however, went to Lyles by a razor-thin margin. Thompson’s silver-medal performance placed him just ahead of Fred Kerley, the American sprinter who took bronze with 9.81 seconds.
Although Thompson’s accolades have yet to match the legendary status of his idol, his performance in Paris offers a glimpse of his potential.