The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have delivered an electrifying showcase of sprinting prowess, with both the men’s and women’s 100m races producing moments of unforgettable drama and history.
Julien Alfred: St Lucia’s Trailblazing Sprint Star
In a historic performance, Julien Alfred stormed to victory in the women’s 100m final at the Stade de France. Amidst a torrential downpour, the 23-year-old from St Lucia made history by becoming her nation’s first Olympic medallist, clinching gold with a blistering time of 10.72 seconds. Alfred’s victory not only secured her place in Olympic history but also set a new national record.
American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson took silver with a time of 10.87 seconds, while her compatriot Melissa Jefferson finished third in 10.92 seconds. Great Britain’s Daryll Neita, who crossed the line in 10.96 seconds, narrowly missed the podium, finishing just four-hundredths of a second behind Jefferson. Neita’s fourth-place finish was the best by a British female athlete in an Olympic sprint final for 64 years, though she expressed her disappointment at falling short of an individual global medal.
Neita’s teammates Dina Asher-Smith and Imani-Lara Lansiquot did not advance to the final, with Asher-Smith finishing fifth in her semi-final in 11.10 seconds, and Lansiquot missing out with a time of 11.21 seconds. Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also withdrew from the competition before her semi-final.
Despite the disappointment, both Neita and Asher-Smith will shift their focus to the 200m race, where they hope to add to their Olympic achievements.
Noah Lyles: A Photo Finish for the Ages
The men’s 100m final was nothing short of extraordinary, featuring one of the closest and most thrilling races in Olympic history. Noah Lyles of the United States emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a photo finish. Lyles crossed the line in a time of 9.79 seconds, just five-thousandths of a second ahead of Thompson, marking the fastest 100m race of all time with all eight finalists running under 10 seconds.
The race was a testament to the razor-thin margins in elite sprinting, with the last-placed finisher, Jamaican Oblique Seville, recording a time of 9.91 seconds—good enough for fourth place at the previous Tokyo Games. The competition was so tight that Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic champion, declared it the greatest 100m final he had ever witnessed.
Lyles, who was in last place at the 40-meter mark, surged in the final meters to claim gold. His top speed of 43.6 kilometers per hour, achieved at 60 meters, propelled him into contention, and his final stretch was enough to secure the win.
Thompson, the fastest man in the world this year, maintained his lead from 30 meters but was ultimately edged out by Lyles’ late burst. The final was so close that the official results were only confirmed after a tense wait.
Lyles’ win is a significant milestone in his quest to build a legacy akin to that of Usain Bolt. With his eyes set on further glory, Lyles is also targeting the 200m title and potentially the 4x400m relay, aiming to cement his place as one of the sport’s new superstars.
As Paris 2024 continues to captivate audiences with its thrilling athletics, both Julien Alfred and Noah Lyles have set new benchmarks in sprinting, delivering performances that will be remembered for years to come.
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