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Since Usain Bolt hung his spikes in 2017, there hasn’t been an overwhelming favorite for the 100m title at a major championship. With the same scenario this year, at least five are favourites for the Olympic gold with Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson leading the list.
When track and field kicks off on August 1 at Paris 2024 Olympics, attention will be on Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson as they go head-to-head gunning for the men's Olympic 100m glory.
While Lyles is the reigning world champion and has been the most vocal about his ambitions to win the gold medal, Thompson has been the silent mover and lets his speed do the talking - a testament to being the current world leader at 9.77s.
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Despite both speedsters topping pundits' lists as the favourites for the ultimate win, other top sprinters cannot be counted out as they're in the mix to upset the balance.
Since Usain Bolt hung his spikes in 2017, there hasn’t been an overwhelming favorite for the title. Therefore, predictions for the men’s 100m event – the most-watched at the games – are starting to generate a lot of excitement.
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16:00 - 23.07.2024
Noah Lyles or Erriyon Knighton: Usain Bolt picks his favourite 200m talent
Multiple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has revealed his favourite 200m talent heading to Paris 2024 Olympic Games between Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton. However, he believes none is touching his World Record.
With fans and enthusiasts going overdrive with who they think can win the title and get the tag of the Olympic champion, here are the five sprinters alongside Lyles and Thompson capable of claiming the 100m title in Paris.
Letsile Tebogo
The Botswana youngster after dominating the junior level by breaking all records available, stunned the world when he sped to the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, thus becoming the first African man to win 100m medal in the championship history.
His last build-up race at the London Diamond League saw him equal his Personal Best (PB) of 9.88s to finish third, which can be a warning that he still has more in his tank.
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Tebogo can never be written off in a race, and if he gets his acts together on August 5th in the final, he'll be aiming for his best career performance that'll lead him to cross the finish line first.
Marcell Jacobs
At the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, the world was stunned when a long jumper stormed to a new European Record of 9.79s and won. It marked the beginning of Jacobs's rise to fame and winning multiple global medals afterward.
Once again, he isn't the outright favourite this time as he's been dealing with injuries and consistency, but like the saying goes "once a champion is always a champion".
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The Italian star is the defending champion and will give all it takes to keep the title in his hands for another four years.
Fred Kerley
As a former world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, the American is more motivated than ever to upset the pundits list by grabbing the gold medal.
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Kerley gave a glimpse of what to expect when he secured his spot at the US trials and with a higher stake this time to bounce back into recognition, he can be the Olympic champion no one will see coming.
Ferdinand Omanyala
Africa's fastest man in history is currently the second-fastest in the world this year with a blistering time of 9.79s.
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The Kenyan has clocked the most 9.7s in his career among the potential medallists, and if able to replicate the same performance, then he's capable of securing that top position.
Oblique Seville
Another Jamaican who talks with his speed on the track and can beat anyone on his good day, Seville can be the top dog if everything aligns in Paris.
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He is the only one to have defeated Lyles this season, and having a best performance of 9.82s, who says he can't do it again?
Thompson and Lyles
Lyles is the more popular and accomplished of the two. More significantly, his three titles from last year’s world championships in Budapest, matching the great Bolt, puts him a nudge ahead.
His Personal Best of 9.81s which he ran at the London Diamond League isn’t all that flashy, and judging by antecedent, he would need to run faster than that if he's to have any chance of beating Thomspon.
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21:00 - 14.07.2024
Kishane Thompson: 5 things you need to know about Jamaica's 100m gold hopeful at Paris 2024
Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson has emerged as a leading contender for the Paris 2024 Olympics with record-breaking speed and elite coaching.
On the other hand, the Jamaican 100m champion has taken the world by storm in the last few months. Though he is yet to compete in the World Championships or the Olympics, Thompson remains undefeated this season, running sub-9.85s in all three races at the Jamaican Championships and capped off his impressive streak with a personal best of 9.77s in the final.
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The Jamaicans are obsessed with having another male gold medallist since Bolt, and if he can build on his national championship momentum, they may finally have their request granted.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the men's 100m final will potentially be the most competitive since the London 2012 Games.
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