Noah Lyles is the world’s fastest man — thanks in part to his torso
NBCJul 28
Olympics: Noah Lyles Wins 100-Meter Gold by 0.005 Seconds
Above: Noah Lyles crosses the finish line to win the Men's 100m Final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris. Image copyright: Richard Heathcote/Staff/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Facts
Sprinter Noah Lyles on Sunday became the first American in 20 years to win an Olympic 100m title, beating his nearest rival by a mere five-thousandths of a second.
With a late rally, Lyles (at a personal best of 9.784 seconds) pipped Jamaica's Kishane Thompson (9.789 seconds) at the finishing line.
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite having the joint slowest start, Noah Lyles, known for his confidence and showmanship, cemented his status as a legendary sprinter in an unforgettable Olympic final. With his remarkable win, the American has ended Jamaica's 100m supremacy at the Olympic Games.
Narrative B
Lyles could only snatch victory from Thompson due to flawed Olympic rules and regulations, which count the trunk of the body, not the feet, to decide the winner. The sports' governing body must reconsider track and field rules that are unfair to those athletes who actually reach the finish line first.