What’s the best thing about Jamaica? Not, perhaps, the exquisite beaches, but its history of producing world-class sprinters. The legendary Usain Bolt is from Jamaica, and so is one of the greatest sprinters of all time, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. And the country is not slowing down in churning out top athletes. Kishane Thompson is the latest name on the long list of star Jamaican athletes who have stunned the world with their speed.

His blistering run saw him win the 100m final of the JAAA National Championship. In the process, the 23-year-old athlete etched his name as the fourth fastest Jamaican man in record books after Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Asafa Powell. He is now competing with the likes of Noah Lyles at the Paris Olympics and is considered the top contender to bag the 100m gold. Can he do that? We will see in time; in the meantime, let’s uncover Kishane Thompson’s speed and whether he possesses the strength to sprint great.

Learn about the speed of Kishane Thompson

Kishane Thomson’s exemplary track and field career began in 2023 when he won the 100m at the Jamaican Championships with a blazingly fast 9.91 runtime. But it was the Wanda Diamond League circuit in Xiamen that witnessed his 100m personal best of 9.85. Training at the MVP club in Jamaica, Thompson ended the season with a fourth-place finish in the Diamond League final in Eugene with 9.87. But his best was yet to come.

Gunning for the Olympics, Thompson seems to have given it all in at the Jamaican Olympic trials in Kingston. The 100m opening round saw the rising Jamaican sprinter finish in 9.82 seconds. Moving into the final, Thomson set a new personal best, clocking 9.77 seconds and claiming the Jamaican national title. Does this seal his reputation as an elite athlete?

Does Kishane Thompson possess the power to become the next track and field legend?

Kishane Thompson’s performance at the 2024 Olympics trials was momentous. His run time of 9.77 seconds was the fastest since the American sprinter Fred Kerley registered a win in the 2022 World Championships semi-finals with a 9.76-second run time. That performance will add another star to his resume; he will become the fastest Jamaican, too, since Bolt hung his boots.

Thompson has effortlessly led his team into the men’s 100m semi-finals, with an impressive runtime of 10s flat at the heat event. Interestingly, the American sprinting powerhouse Noah Lyles finished his heat, clocking 10.04 seconds and ending behind Thompson. The interesting tussle between Thomson and Lyles has rekindled the track-and-field rivalry between Jamaica and the USA. Whether Thompson’s raw talent prevails or Lyles’ experience and tactical prowess give him the edge, fans are indeed up for a thrilling spectacle.