“It’s the one I wanted, it’s the hard battle, it’s the amazing opponents,” Noah Lyles said about Kishane Thompson after competing in the Paris Olympics. But what made this race so special? The 100m final in Paris will be remembered for years, almost won by the rising Caribbean star, Kishane Thompson. Lyles won by just five thousandths of a second.

But did Lyles think he’d pulled it off? In a finish that had everyone holding their breath, he thought it might be too late to catch Thompson. Yet the giant screen showed him as the winner, with both runners clocking 9.79 seconds. If the race had been a meter shorter, would Thompson have taken Jamaica’s fourth 100m Olympic title in five Games? Perhaps.

But Lyles timed his dip perfectly, adding Olympic gold to his world title. Now that Lyles has the gold, the question remains: what’s next for Kishane? It could have been an even greater season for Thompson if he’d had the chance to compete in more races.

On the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, titled “Is This the Year of Revenge? Do Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, and Kishane Thompson Have a Lot to Prove?” hosts Rodney Green, a renowned Bahamian sprinter, and American sprint legend Justin Gatlin, delved into the escalating pressure faced by today’s sprinting stars. Green specifically highlighted Kishane Thompson’s potential, noting that while Thompson ended the previous season with a time of 9.85, he didn’t compete this year. Though rumors circulated about an injury, Green speculated that Thompson “would have ended his season around 9.79  you know what I mean 9.279 that he would have clipped off in the year”

With more eyes on him than ever, Green questioned how Thompson would adapt to the heightened expectations from himself, his coaches, and Jamaica. He pointed out that it’s easier to perform when no one expects much, but now the stakes are higher, and Thompson will need to meet those challenges head-on.

However, at just 23 years old, Kishane Thompson made a fantastic debut in his first major championship by snagging a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. What a way to kick things off! This big win is definitely a huge confidence boost as he looks ahead to the 2025 World Championships.

Although Thompson only raced five times this year in the 100 meters and dealt with some injury rumors, he still managed to finish strong. He’s had a tough time with injuries since the Olympics and missed several Diamond League events, but now that the next season is coming up, he’s focused on getting his fitness back on track. But Injuries have always been part of his career throughout.

Injuries, missed chances, and the promise of Kishane Thompson

Injuries have taken a significant toll on Kishane Thompson’s young career, limiting his participation in many major competitions. Although he began his professional journey in 2019, it wasn’t until 2024 that he had the chance to represent Jamaica at the Paris Olympic Games. In 2022, he missed the World Championships in Eugene due to a lack of racing opportunities and ended his season early in May. Last year, he had high hopes for the Budapest Championships, finishing first in the heats at the Jamaican trials but ultimately failing to reach the final.

This year, however, Thompson appeared to be making a comeback. He delivered strong performances at three Diamond League Meetings, finishing fifth in Monaco, second in Xiamen, and fourth in Eugene. His season started on a high note when he won the Jamaican Olympic trials with a world-leading time of 9.77 seconds, followed by a victory at the Gyulai István Memorial in Hungary. The pinnacle of his year came when he secured silver in the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics.

With the track and field season now over, Thompson has time to rest and recover. Hopes remain high for his return next year, and a great comeback seems within reach if he can stay healthy and regain his form.