Losing to Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson Shares Debatable Opinion With Paris Olympics Community

If the loud cheers at the Stade de France aren’t any indication of what went down on the now iconic purple tracks, let us break it down for you. In an intense battle of USA vs. Jamaica, Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson locked horns in the most anticipated event on August 4. While the former was the reigning 100m world champion, the latter was atop the season’s table as the world lead. But in a nail-biting final, the American edged the Jamaican by five-thousandths of a tick of the clock. Even though both of them crossed the finish line in 9.79 seconds, Lyles clinched his first Olympic gold medal at the Stade de France.

As they both waited for the final scores, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist was seen clinging on to the 23-year-old. But as Lyles ran up to his mother in the stands after his victory, Thompson was seen walking away, looking perplexed. In his post-race interview, the Jamaican was asked if the gold medal should be shared. “No disrespect to other sports but I think our sport is too competitive for a medal to be shared.” However, his response has left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

An equally thrilling event back at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics had a different outcome. Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim found themselves at a unique crossroads during the high jump finals in the Japanese Capital. The duo, along with Maksim Nedasekau, had cleared a height of 2.37m. However, neither of them could go beyond 2.39m. Reaching an impasse, the two were then asked if they would instead share the top step of the podium. Tamberi jumped atop Barshim, ecstatic to have won the Olympic gold together. The moment truly felt like a real-life adaptation of a fairy tale.

Thompson was deemed as the favorite leading up to the Summer Games. However, for the first time in 44 years, this unusual situation in the Olympic finals had to be decided by a millisecond. The world lead had to settle for an Olympic silver medal. But, regardless of the result, the athlete was “super grateful” he got to contest on the world’s biggest stage injury-free. “I am disappointed, but I am going to take it as what it is and move forward from here.” The 23-year-old confessed how he didn’t believe in himself.

However, the Jamaican further added, “I couldn’t see him (Lyles), but I thought he was seeing me. So he said, ‘Hey Kishane, I think you got it done,’ but I wasn’t really sure.” Noah Lyles and Thompson patiently waited for their time together after the race. Both of them seemed uncertain of who made it through. “This is my closest race. I knew I had cleared Kerley and Simbine, but I wasn’t sure if I won because I couldn’t see to my far right. I should have been more relaxed and patient with myself.” He admitted how he realized he made a mistake, and will now go back and focus on improving upon that.

An unexpected result leaves many gobsmacked

The atmosphere was electric as eight men lined up for the 100m finals at the Stade de France. The anticipation of who would win was so thick you could cut it with a knife. As the sprinters settled into the blocks, a silence befell amidst the stands. They set off for the finish, and in the blink of an eye, they were already past the finish line. Noah Lyles had done it! Even though the two men finished at about the same time, the American had made it to the top of the podium.

While the crowds in the stadium were ecstatic for him, fans around the world felt differently. Was Thompson cheated out of a win? Or was this a fair verdict? Many seemed to over-analyze the moment, trying to configure a preferred outcome. Some even brought up their times from the heats and semi-finals, questioning if there was more to it than what meets the eye. Much to their dismay, the world lead had been bested by the American, and nothing could change that.

Regardless of what the internet has to say, the Jamaican believes he knows what he has to do next. Even though his words might seem harsh, the 23-year-old will walk away with more than just a silver medal. “Today I gained a lot of experience running with all these great competitors.” Even though this is the last time we’ll see the 23-year-old in the French capital, he is far from done. Do you think Kishane Thompson could’ve handled his disappointment any better? Let us know in the comments!