In a dramatic turn of events, what should have been a celebration of athletic prowess has become a source of contention as fans protest Noah Lyles’ Olympic gold medal victory following a highly controversial finish.
In Sunday’s men’s 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, USA sprinter Noah Lyles came in first after a last-second lean towards the finish line.
Lyles beat out Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson by just five-thousandths of a second, one of the closest finishes fans will ever witness. The official record has Lyles and Thompson finishing with the same time of 9.79 seconds, but Lyles still picked up the win by a minuscule amount. In a photo that is going viral on social media with over seven million views, Thompson’s foot is clearly well over the finish line before Lyles is.
The Controversial Finish
Noah Lyles’ gold medal win was determined by an incredibly narrow margin—just five-thousandths of a second. The race, which pitted Lyles against Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson, was so close that the result was initially uncertain, requiring a photo finish to declare the winner. The margin of victory was so minuscule that it led to widespread scrutiny and questions about the accuracy and fairness of the timing systems used.
Fan Reactions and Protests
After the race, fans noticed that Thompson may have been robbed of gold. The result has sparked significant debate and dissatisfaction among spectators and experts alike. The unprecedented closeness of the finish has led to a wave of protests from fans who believe that the race was marred by inconsistencies. Social media platforms have been abuzz with accusations of unfairness and calls for a review of the race results. Some fans have even demanded a re-run of the event or a formal inquiry into the timing equipment used. The controversy has been exacerbated by visual evidence suggesting that Thompson appeared to cross the finish line slightly ahead of Lyles in some slow-motion replays. This has fueled further debate about whether the technology used was capable of accurately measuring such a fine difference.
Official Responses and Reactions
However, Lyles won because his torso was over the line before Thompson’s. The official Olympic rules state that the first runner whose torso reaches the finish line wins the race. In response to the protests, the governing bodies of track and field have defended the accuracy of the timing systems. They have stated that the equipment used in the race was certified and met all international standards. The officials involved in the race have emphasized that the results were determined with the utmost precision and that the photo finish technology used is among the most advanced in the world.
Despite what the rule clearly states, some fans continue to protest Lyles’ gold medal, believing Thompson was more deserving of the win.
So, what body part must cross the line first?
