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Noah Lyles has set his sights on winning the 100m gold medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics. Known primarily for his success in the 200m, Lyles has recently made a strong case for himself in the shorter sprint, following his World Championships triumph last year. However, he will face significant competition from Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson, among others.
Thompson has recently made headlines with his outstanding performance at the Jamaican Olympic Trials, where he clocked an impressive 9.77 seconds, the fastest 100m time recorded since the 2022 World Championships.
His strong showing positions him as a serious contender for Olympic gold, alongside other potential medalists like his compatriot Oblique Seville, who has also posted notable times this season.
As the Paris Olympics continues, Thompson's coach, Stephen Francis, has weighed in on the competition, particularly focusing on Lyles.
Despite the growing competition, Lyles remains unfazed and confident. In a recent interview with AFP, he expressed his belief in his ability to come out on top, regardless of the challenges posed by Thompson, Seville, and other competitors.
"I beat everyone that I touch," he noted.
"I don't see why the Jamaicans are any different. This is what I pray for, this is what I live for and I back myself up, don't I?"
Francis hit out at Lyles
Francis noted that Lyles, who holds world titles in both the 100m and 200m, often engages in psychological tactics aimed at unsettling his opponents. However, Francis believes that the depth of talent in the field this year might mitigate the effectiveness of such strategies.
"I think you will find he plays mind games with those he is faster than," Francis said.
"I don't think he will have the opportunity this time around, but we will see if his mind games works on people who have demonstrated they are a lot faster than he is."