Why the Lyles-Thompson Sprint in Paris Still Cannot Compete With Usain Bolt’s Olympic Glory

American sprint legedn on why Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompsons Paris photo finish fails in comparison to Usain Bolt-led Olympic final.

Why the Lyles-Thompson Sprint in Paris Still Cannot Compete With Usain Bolt’s Olympic Glory

Stephen Awino 11:13 - 24.04.2025

Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson continue to spark comparisons to sprint greats like Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake.

American sprint legends Justin Gatlin and Wallace Spearmon have agreed on why Noah Lyles' epic showdown with Kishane Thompson, which resulted in a photo finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, still does not compare to the Usain Bolt-led 2012 Olympic final.

Gatlin and Spearmon are decorated sprinters, with the former boasting Olympic golds and World titles in the 100m.

The pair had a candid discussion on a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast that prompted the comparison.

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What Wallace Spearmon Said

Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson have dominated debate over who is the world's fastest man.
Noah Lyles defeated Kishane Thompson to win Paris Olympics 100m gold

The former American sprinter praised Lyles' showdown with Thompson but stated that, despite it being regarded as one of the fastest Olympic finals, it fails in comparison to the 2012 one that featured the likes of Gatlin himself, the World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, and Ryan Bailey—some of the fastest men in history.

"That 100-meter final from 2012 with you (Gatlin), Tyson, Yohan, and Bailey—it was insane," said Spearmon.

"I have so much respect for what everyone has done over the years, and honestly, it doesn’t matter what anyone says, that final is still top three or top five, worst-case scenario, for Olympic 100-meter finals," he added.

"It’s going to take a lot to top that. I go back and watch the Paris race from last year, and it was a great race with solid storytelling, and it was cool to see who won. But London is still one of my all-time favorite 100-meter finals. I mean, honestly, it’s hard to beat."

What Gatlin Said?

Justin Gatlin on What Made Rivalry With Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell Special
The 'big five' sprinters taking each other on in the 100m final at the 2012 Olympic games

"For anyone who wants to argue about that, technically, you could say Paris was the fastest because everyone ran a certain time, which made it the fastest overall," said Gatlin.

"But in 2012, you had all the fastest people—from one all the way down to fifth or sixth or even seventh—all in the same race. It’s almost like having a cheat code," added the former World Champion.

While the 2024 Paris final boasted very impressive times from each of the finalists, with Noah Lyles triumphant over Kishane Thompson—both clocking 9.79 seconds—the sheer speed of the 2012 lineup takes it for Gatlin and Spearmon.

The 2012 Olympics featured the top five men in history, with Bolt being the fastest at 9.58, while Tyson and Blake tied at 9.69, Powell coming in fourth with 9.72, and Gatlin closing off the top five with 9.74.

While Lyles' and Thompson's times are impressive, they fail in comparison.

The pair, however, along with the likes of Fred Kerley, Letsile Tebogo, and Kenny Bednarek, still have an opportunity to eclipse the performance of the 2012 Olympic lineup led by Bolt, with upcoming major championships like the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.