Unknown Jamaican sprint ‘demon’ – Kishane Thompson is disenchanted for losing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games men’s 100m gold to Noah Lyles of the US. The MVP Track Club sprinter [Thompson] who made his Diamond League debut in Monaco, France only on July 21, 2023 became the poster boy going into the Paris Olympics having coasted a world lead 9.77 seconds to win the 2024 Jamaican Trials ahead of Oblique Seville. Coached by the legendary Stephen Francis, the 23-year-old Thompson announced himself to the world on Saturday August 3, winning heat 1 of the men’s 100m in 10.00 seconds. He then went on to send a clear message to the rest of the frontrunners ahead of the finals having won the semi-final 3 in 9.80 seconds, ahead of Fred Kerley [9.84], and Benjamin Richardson [9.95] of South Africa. Having produced such a sterling performance in the semis, the world was waiting with bated breath to see what the young Jamaican had in his highly built biceps for the final at the iconic Stade de France, but in the final analysis, however, it had to take images from Omega – the official provider of photo finish images at the 2024 Paris Olympics to actually decide the winner of the men’s 100-meter sprint. The image shows Lyles extending his body forward, with his torso — namely, his shoulder and clavicle — crossing the line before anyone else’s. Like a bullet from a rifle, Kishane Thompson took off from the blocks in style and led from 40 metres, but as usual of the American sprinter, Lyles lunged forward to just beat out Kishane Thompson on the line, with a margin of five one thousandths of a second having both crossed the line in 9.79 seconds. Obviously not happy with the outcome of the results, Thompson shared his frustration in a post race interview: “I’m going to be disappointed, but I’m super happy and grateful at the same time,” Thompson said. “I just got to take it as what it is and just move forward from here. “I wasn’t patient enough with my speed myself.” Noah Lyles became the first sprinter from the US to win an Olympic gold in the last twenty years after Justin Gatlin in Athens 2004 whereas Thompson became the first Jamaican to win a medal in the 100m dash post Usain Bolt era. By James K. Attaglo Wilson
After breaking the longstanding world record with 2.10m this summer, it was hard to see Yaroslava Mahuchikh losing in Paris. But the 22-year-old was up against the formidable Australian duo Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, plus fellow Ukrainian Iryna Gerashchenko.
Mahuchikh and Olyslagers jumped 2.00m with Mahuchikh winning courtesy of her perfect record up to that point, whereas Olyslagers needed three attempts to get over the same height and then failed at 2.02m.
“Finally, I got this gold medal,” said Mahuchikh. “I’m looking forward to the next competition.”
The world record-holder drew attention by slipping her legs into a sleeping bag in between her attempts. “It’s comfortable to me and I’ve done it for a few years,” she said.
She also explained she has added two more steps to her run-up “which gives me more speed and a more comfortable feeling on the runway. The sky’s the limit!”
There was a reminder of the war in Ukraine with Russian-born Elena Kulichenko finishing seventh for Cyprus. Kulichenko, who jumped 1.95m on Sunday in Paris, switched nations in 2019, however, and she believes her efforts as an athlete should not be linked to politics and war. Sadly, she has received a huge amount of hateful messages on social media calling her a traitor.
For Mahuchikh this had been a chance to strike gold for her own war-torn nation. In 2022, don’t forget, she undertook a three‑day journey by road from her home of Dnipro to Belgrade shortly after the Russian invasion began to compete in the European Indoor Championships, where she won gold.
Of course the high jump final in Paris was a big success for Australian athletics too.
Olyslagers said: “Tonight was so special for me because it’s the first time with this kind of atmosphere. I wanted to continue showing up, I wanted to give my best, it was amazing.”
Patterson, who is coming back from injury and surgery, added: “I’m in a bit of disbelief. It’ll take a while to sink in. I would’ve loved to jump higher, so it’s a bit of mixed emotions of feeling a little disappointed with my performances. But then you realise that it comes with a bronze medal, so I’m pretty proud.”
Source: AW
