'I will shock this world'- Kishane Thompson reflects on Paris Olympics debut and duel with Noah Lyles

Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson has opened up about his nerve-wracking Olympic debut and his thrilling race against Noah Lyles.

Kishane Thompson has revealed the mix of emotions he experienced leading up to his debut at the Paris Olympics where he competed against some of the world's fastest men in the 100m final.

The 23-year-old Jamaican sprinter not only demonstrated his world-class abilities but also proved he is a force to be reckoned with, finishing just five-thousandths of a second behind gold medalist Noah Lyles in the 100m final.

Thompson stepped onto the Olympic track for the first time alongside a star-studded field that included reigning world champion Noah Lyles, former champion Fred Kerley and defending Olympic gold medalist Marcell Jacobs.

For Thompson, the event was a culmination of years of dedication, hard work and overcoming nerves to compete with the best.

“I will shock this world. My biggest rival is Noah Lyles, he is the world champion. I won’t be intimidated. Eh, that hypes me up. It’s ‘All right. Let’s do this,’” Thompson said during the third episode of Netflix’s docuseries Sprint, which chronicled his journey to the Olympics.

In the Jamaican Olympic trials leading up to Paris, Thompson had already set the track world buzzing.

He clocked an impressive 9.82 seconds in the 100m opening round, followed by an extraordinary 9.77 seconds in the finals to clinch the Jamaican National title.

His stellar performances earned him a spot on Jamaica's Olympic team and cemented his reputation as the nation’s next big hope for gold in the sprints.

When it came time to compete in Paris, Thompson delivered yet another phenomenal performance, crossing the finish line in 9.79 seconds in the 100m final.

Despite matching Noah Lyles’ time, he missed the gold medal by a mere 0.005 seconds, taking home silver in one of the closest Olympic 100m races in history.

Reflecting on the experience, Thompson described the mixture of excitement and anxiety that came with his first major international competition.

“The Olympics, it will be my first major international. Very nerve-wracking feeling. But a nerve-wracking and exciting feeling, knowing that something special is going to happen, and it’s just a piece of what to come,” he shared as per SportsKeeda.

Thompson’s remarkable showing in Paris solidified his place as a rising star, earning him widespread admiration from fans and experts alike.

“When I came on the scene, and I did a small glimmer of what I’m capable of, they said, ‘All right. About time he came into the fire,’” Thompson recalled.

Despite the accolades, Thompson is already looking to the future with a determination to improve.

“The first thing I’ve learned after going through something like this is I have to be more patient with myself. The second thing is I need to understand that the last part of the race is the most complicated, and the third is when it’s such a close final, I have to big up myself even more,” he said.

Having first competed on the Diamond League circuit in 2023, Thompson has shown steady improvement.

From finishing fifth in Monaco with a time of 10.04 seconds to clocking an impressive 9.85 seconds and securing second place in Xiamen his trajectory points to a promising career ahead.

With his fearless attitude and relentless drive, Kishane Thompson is not just Jamaica’s next big sprinter — he is a global contender ready to make history.