Noah Lyles explains Fred Kerley's role in hindering Kishane Thompson from snatching Olympic 100m gold

Olympic 100-meter gold medalist has expressed his gratitude to his US teammate for playing a pivotal role in his victory at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Lyles acknowledged Kerley’s role in keeping Jamaica’s rising star, , under pressure during the intense final, ultimately paving the way for Lyles to secure the gold.

Thompson, touted as Jamaica’s next 100m sensation, narrowly missed out on the title, finishing just milliseconds behind Lyles. 

Bednarek finished seventh in 9.88 in what is perhaps the closest 100m final in Olympics history in Paris last month, but admitted to a tactical blunder during the race that cost him the ultimate price.

The final race was a nail-biter, with Lyles clocking a personal best of 9.79 seconds, Thompson close behind in 9.79 seconds, and Kerley completing the podium with a stunning 9.81 seconds for the bronze.

Thompson, known for his ability to maintain a powerful drive through the 60-80 meter mark before easing up towards the end of races, found himself in unfamiliar territory. In the Olympic final, he was forced to run the entire distance at full throttle.

 Positioned in lane four, Thompson faced pressure from Kerley in lane three and South Africa’s Akani Simbine in lane five, causing him to tighten up in the closing stages—something he later admitted cost him the victory.

Reflecting on his performance in the post-race interviews, Thompson was candid about his mistakes. «I made my mistakes, and I know what I should improve on now,» he shared, adding that the race had taught him the importance of patience.

Kishane Thompson has spoken candidly about the role his fraternal twin brother Kishan has played in shaping the sprinter he now is.

 Days later, in a conversation with Spain’s Relevo, he acknowledged, «The first thing I’ve learned after going through something like this is I have to be more patient with myself.»

In the wake of his victory, Lyles praised Kerley’s efforts, acknowledging that the pressure applied by his teammate was a key factor in disrupting Thompson’s rhythm. Speaking on the podcast, Lyles remarked, “People were like, ‘Kishane ran these times slowing down, slowing down,’ and yes, it is very impressive that he ran those times slowing down. Unfortunately, you never took your body to running full speed, so now when you are needed at the end, it is a new world.”

Lyles credited Kerley’s influence during the race, stating, “I do agree 100 percent, Fred putting pressure on him was a bonus to me.” He continued, “Pressure can work in one of two ways. It can either boost you by 20 percent or tear you down by 20 percent. You decide how you want it to go. If you say ‘this is my moment, this was made for me,’ that’s a 20 percent boost.

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“But if you’re thinking ‘I’ve never raced these guys before, I don’t know if I can do this,’ then it’s 20 percent less.”

Lyles emphasized his own mindset when approaching major competitions, noting that he views every big stage as a divine opportunity. “Every time I get to a big stage, I believe this is a moment that God has prepared for me. I believe that God has put the super, and together we are going to create the supernatural.”