Could Jamaican Sprinter, Kishane Thompson, crown himself as the fastest man in the world?

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are officially underway. Athletes from every corner of the globe have gathered in Paris to showcase their incredible sporting abilities on the world stage. However, in the background of all the fantastical celebrations of the Olympic Opening Ceremony of 2024, a question lingers at the back of everyone's mind.

Who will be dubbed the fastest man in the world?

At only 22 years of age, Kishane Thompson sent shockwaves through the sprinting world as he comfortably won the 100 meters Final at Jamaican National Championships, setting the current World Leading time this season of 9.77 seconds.

This time, of 9.77 seconds, already places him in the top to as top 10 fast sprinter of all time.

His time beating the Personal Record of Six-times Sprinting World Champion, Noah Lyles, who many thought would be the favourite to win the Olympic Gold medal in the event before Thompson's recent performance.

While Lyles recently ran a 100 of 9.81 seconds in mid July setting a new PR in London into a slight headwind of -0.3. Thompson's performance is a major threat to Lyles' recent dominance in the sprinting world.

Despite having never competed at The World Championships or The Olympic Games and only being in his second season as a pro sprinter, Thompson has quickly become serious contender to win the Olympic Gold medal in the event.

Watch now:

Kishane Thompson win the 100 meters Jamaican National

While Thompson's recent success has catapulted him into the sprinting discourse from seemingly out of nowhere, The World Champion, Noah Lyles, seems far from surprised by the young Jamaican's recent achievement.

In an interview with Track World Star, Lyles said that he had already known about Thompson's capabilities through his girlfriend, the Jamaican sprinter, Junelle Bromfield. In the interview Lyles stated:

"When we were in the interview and they set out how fast he ran I said, "I hope he stay's injured" because I know that he's had a hard history with injuries, and every time that he runs fast he usually has to be taken off because he's usually hurt. So the fact that he was able to keep going it's like oh! This is great you know, he's actually being able to show his full potential."

Watch the Full Interview here:

Noah Lyles Seeks Olympic REVENGE (youtube.com)

Thompson's dominant performance in the finals is made more remarkable due to him de-accelerating at around the 70 meters mark.

His choice cruise through the latter portion of the race has left many to wonder just how fast his world leading time could have been if he sprinted the full 100 meters.

In an interview with Television Jamaica Thompson said,

"My coach told me to run the first 60 meters, nothing more - after that, shut it down."

"If I came second or third I would've made the team. The goal wasn't to prove anything tonight, just run the 70 or 60 meters and see where I was."

Thompson has had "continuous shin problems" for serval years and tore his quad in January leaving many to wonder if Thompson can sustain and replicate this performance throughout the Olympic Games despite currently holding the World Leading time in the 100 meters.

Lyles, at 26 years old, has an significant experience advantage and has been extremely consistent on the world stage in recent years. In his best event, the 200 meters, he has not lost a single race since 2021 and currently holds the American Record and the third fastest time in history in the event of 19.30 seconds.

Will Thompson be able sustain his performance throughout the games and make a name for himself in his first Olympic Games or will Lyles be able to continue the dominance on the track and cement himself as one of the greatest sprinters of this generation?

The world eagerly awaits the answers to these questions in the 100 meters final of the Olympic Games on August 4th.