Video of Noah Lyles' incredible photo finish goes viral after he clinches 100m gold medal

PARIS, FRANCE: Noah Lyles is officially the world's fastest man after clinching the gold medal in the men's 100-meter dash by a razor-thin margin—merely five-thousandths of a second—on the evening of Sunday, August 4.

The win concludes a 20-year Olympic dry spell for the USA in the event, dating back to Justin Gatlin's victory in the 100-meter race in Athens.

Noah Lyles wins gold in closely contested race

In a heart-stopping finish that had the world on the edge of their seats, Noah Lyles clinched the gold medal in the men's 100m.

The American sprinter edged out Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson by a tiny margin of just five-thousandths of a second, making it one of the closest races in Olympic history. Lyles surged from behind to just edge past Thompson at the finish line, Athlon Sports reported.

The finish was so close that it sparked controversy, with many fans claiming a potential injustice for Thompson based on a viral photo finish suggesting his foot crossed the line first.

This victory, however, solidifies Lyles status as America's leading sprinter.

Thompson, the race's betting favorite, secured the silver medal while American Fred Kerley claimed the bronze.

The final times — Lyles at 9.784 seconds, Thompson at 9.789 — neatly summarize the event. However, they don't capture the full story, considering Lyles' performance in the qualifying rounds over the past two days.

The American secured second place in both the first round and the semifinal qualifiers, doing just enough to advance to the final race, yet his performance left fans questioning whether his confidence would be outshone on this grand stage.

Lyles admitted later that he believed Thompson had crossed the finish line before him, according to CNN Sports.

“It was a crazy moment because, like I said, I did think that because Kishane had that and I was like, ‘Man, I really, you know, have to swallow my pride,’ which I don’t have a problem doing because respect deserves respect,” he said.

Noah Lyles' win leaves fans awe-struck

As soon as the photo finish and video of the race went viral, social media users lavished praise on Noah Lyles.

A user dubbed him, "Undisputed champ."

Another user added, "True inspiration to us track athletes with asthma @LylesNoah!"

The third commentator wrote, "Saw you run in Eugene, Oregon. I like your style. Congratulations."

"Lfg man is a robot.!" one wrote.

A person said, "Wow what a beast!"

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