“Noah Lyles is a great athlete. He is full of energy. He has the crowd… Mentally he is very strong. He believes in himself.” Usain Bolt said those words in the first episode of the Netflix-produced docuseries Sprint, season one. Did Noah hear those words before the Paris Olympics? Surely. In fact, he remained the prime face in the docuseries and a key voice in campaigning for Sprint. And sprint he did indeed with a blistering 9.79 in the 1oo-meters. So the next question is, did a lightning Bolt impact his performance in the French capital? 

Before moving to the Paris Olympics, Lyles had admitted to having a plan to reset the world record in the men’s 100m event. But on the penultimate day, he fell well short of toppling Bolt’s record in the event. Safe to say, that record’s not going to be broken anytime soon. Well, you can’t ignore his fireworks at the event. Noah actually won gold in a final, where each of his rivals went into the sub-10 category to attempt the top podium. Yet, was the race enough to impress Usain Bolt? Think out loud!

Usain Bolt rates a different race higher 

Is there a race in track and field sports history that comes close to the previously stated final? Usain Bolt has an answer. It is the men’s 100m final in the London Olympics.

But only coming closer? No.

According to Bolt, that race was better than Noah’s 100m Olympic final. Thankfully, he had Justin Gatlin, another member from that race, to add anecdotes. The duo almost remained on the same line while talking about that 13-year-old race in an episode of Ready Set Go. In the discussion, Bolt even said, “The accolades and the level that we’re at,” clearly pointing out the level of competition that event in the 2012 Olympics had. Talk about competition, I say!

The race had top-class athletes like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin, Ryan Bailey, Asafa Powell, and even Tyson Gay, who got disqualified. Frankly, some of those sprinters make it to the top 10 in the world. It’s true and Rodney Green supported him for this statement. However, on a few points, both Rodney and Gatlin demonstrated the distinctiveness of the final from the French capital. Such as?

The technicality! Check it out…

In the men’s 100m final in Paris, every athlete completed their shot in the sub-10 category. Things could have been the same 13 years ago in the British capital. But Asafa Powell’s injury broke the music. Because of his injury, the former world champion took 11.990 to complete the event.

Apart from him, the other seven athletes had their timings settled in the sub-10 category. So the technicality might push that race behind the one from the 2024 Olympics. But remember, in London, the lowest time remained Bolt’s 9.630. In comparison, the Paris Olympics had the best timing set in Noah Lyles’ 9.784. Something from Gatlin? 

Justin Gatlin, who won the bronze medal in the race against Bolt 13 years ago, cherishes the memory of that incredible moment. That emotion found words in the conversation, and he spoke, “We lined up at the same time. That was the most epic race when it came to legacy for sure time-wise. I can understand where you coming from when it came to like numbers, no statistically right statistically but the fact of I don’t think you’ll ever replicate that race ever again in life, not the top-five, the top five men in history.” 

You should probably go to YouTube and relive the epic moment!

Talking about legacy, there’s someone who still feels the goosebumps from it. Interestingly, he was present during the men’s 100m event at the Paris Olympics. 

Noah Lyles’ rival feels the goosebumps even after years 

In the Paris Olympics, many considered Kishane Thompson the favorite over Noah Lyles to win the men’s 100m final. He had the world-leading time. Also, he had signs of going beyond that timing. Everything was, however, depending on his fitness level. On the night of August, everything went well for him, except his luck.

He missed the challenge against Noah Lyles by a minimum margin and saw himself taking the silver medal. Such an outcome would undoubtedly have an impact on him. But did this happen in real life? 

No, certainly not. Kishane remains someone who grew up watching Usain Bolt on the screen. Since those days, he has been idolizing the Jamaican great. In the second season of Netflix’s Sprint, that emotion came out publicly when he said, “I was 7 after the Olympics, and I saw what took place. I got a feeling like no other—the goosebumps that filled me up just watching it, and the thrill that.”

He further noted, “I got to see that a human being can reach that height or pinnacle of greatness. It put profound encouragement in me as a person, knowing that I should aspire to be greater than that.”

So, Kishane has a task in his hands. He couldn’t fulfill it at the Paris Olympics. Maybe something great will turn out later. Till then, you can debate the two races. Which do you think is better? Let us know in the comments section below.