'Normally I don't do that' — Noah Lyles explains how Kishane Thompson forced him to unleash unusual tactic to win Olympics title

Reigning Olympic 100m champion has revealed the extraordinary lengths he had to go to in order to clinch gold at the Paris Games last August. 

In what became one of the most thrilling races in Olympic history, Lyles narrowly edged Jamaica’s by just 0.005 seconds, with Fred Kerley finishing 0.02 seconds behind to claim bronze.

Lyles described the race as one of the toughest challenges of his career, exacerbated by a poor start that saw him trailing the pack early on. His reaction time off the blocks was the slowest in the final, forcing him to battle back from the rear. The race culminated in a dramatic photo finish, leaving even Lyles uncertain about the outcome.

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“I didn’t know I won. I did not know what happened. I did not see anybody,” Lyles admitted on his newly launched podcast alongside and

 “All I had was a feeling, and I am a man of faith. I remember getting to the line, and something just told me to lean. I normally never lean because I do not think it is very good unless it is a dire situation.”

Lyles explained that his decision to dip at the finish line—a tactic he rarely employs—came down to sheer instinct in the heat of the moment. “I could feel myself thinking, ‘I’m maybe in the top two, top three, and I’m getting close to the line—I need to dive.’ I was in last place for 50 meters in the race. So many people doubted me, saying, ‘Oh, he’s not a great starter and can’t win because Kishane is much better.’”

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The dramatic finish caught even Lyles by surprise. Convinced Thompson had taken the victory, he approached the Jamaican sprinter after the race and said, “Hey, man, I think you got it.”

Thompson entered the Paris Olympics in red-hot form, having clocked an electrifying 9.77 seconds at Jamaica’s national trials—the fastest time of the year. He continued to impress during the Olympic preliminaries, posting a 9.82, which overshadowed Lyles’ performances at the US trials.

Lyles, however, remained unfazed by the Jamaican’s momentum, exuding his trademark confidence ahead of the Games. “I beat everyone that I touch. I don’t see why the Jamaicans are any different,” he declared. “This is what I pray for, this is what I live for, and I back myself up, don’t I?”

Reflecting on the intensity of sprinting’s biggest stage, Lyles emphasized the importance of self-belief. “You have to have that unbelievable faith that this moment was made for you because if you don’t, somebody else is going to take it,” he said.

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He also highlighted the isolating nature of the event, where athletes must rely entirely on their own abilities. “You don’t know what it’s like to be at the biggest stage for the main event. When the chips are down, it’s you and you alone. No one else can help you.”

For Lyles, the 100m final in Paris stands out as the most grueling race he has ever run, rivaling his iconic 200m victory at the Tokyo Olympics. 

“That was the toughest race of my career,” he admitted, acknowledging Thompson’s talent and potential. Speaking to , Lyles said, “That man has a lot of talent, and I am excited to see how many races we get to go head-to-head in.”