American sprinter Noah Lyles showcased his exceptional form heading into the Paris Olympics by setting a new personal best in the 100 meters at the recent Diamond League meet in London. Lyles clocked an impressive 9.81 seconds, outpacing a competitive field in the final major meet before the highly anticipated Games.
Despite a slightly slower start, Lyles surged ahead in the last 50 meters, leaving his rivals behind. South Africa's Akani Simbine finished second with a time of 9.86, followed by Letsile Tebogo of Botswana in third place with 9.88. Notably, the top five finishers all broke the 10-second barrier, highlighting the caliber of competition.
Reflecting on his performance, Lyles expressed satisfaction with his achievement, stating, 'I could have had a better start. I’ve been having a lot better starts in practice. I wanted to drop under 9.80, but I’ll take a PR every day of the week.' Lyles' previous personal best was 9.83, which he achieved at last year's world championships and then matched at the U.S. Olympic trials.
With this latest feat, Lyles solidifies his position as the frontrunner for the gold medal in Paris, where he aims to establish himself as the fastest man in the world. Confident in his abilities, Lyles boldly declared his intention for the Olympics, asserting, 'I’m going to win. That’s what I always do.'
Additional standout performances at the London Stadium included Matt Hudson-Smith of Britain setting a world-leading time of 43.74 in the men's 400 meters and world champion Femke Bol clinching victory in the women's 400 hurdles with a time of 51.30, her second fastest ever. In the women's 200 meters, Gabrielle Thomas made a remarkable comeback to overtake Julien Alfred and Dina Asher-Smith, securing the win in 21.82.
The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown at the Paris Olympics, with athletes like Noah Lyles poised to deliver exceptional performances and etch their names in the annals of sporting history.
For more updates on the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, visit AP Summer Olympics.
