Noah Lyles WINS Olympic 100m final over Jamaica's Kishane Thompson

Noah Lyles is an Olympic champion for the very first time after storming home to glory by the thinnest of margins in the men's 100m final.

The 27-year-old, who had to settle for a second place finish in the semifinal race earlier on Sunday, swept up his first Olympic gold in 9.79 secs, edging out Kishane Thompson, of Jamaica, by five thousandths (0.05) of a second.

It marked the greatest moment of Lyles' career, considering the sprinter's only Olympic medal had been a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021 (200m). 

Fellow compatriot Fred Kerley came in third in 9.81 secs.

Lyles - the first time American to win gold in the 100m since Justin Gatlin in 2004 - raised his arms in triumph to wild cheers from the packed crowd at the Stade de France, ripping his bib name from his shirt and holding it aloft, as he announced himself as the fastest man in the world while celebrating with family.

'It's the one I wanted, it's the hard battle, it's the amazing opponents,' Lyles said after his epic finish.

'Everybody came prepared for the fight and I wanted to prove that I'm the man among all of them, I'm the wolf among wolves,' he added.

The Gainesville, Florida, native made a slower start out of the blocks than his rivals but accelerated through the finish line right at the death of the race, outpacing Thompson.

Akani Simbini of South Africa was fourth, making it a remarkable six fourth or fifth finishes in global championships, albeit with the consolation of a national record of 9.83 secs.

Defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, heavily strapped, finished fifth in 9.85 secs. while eighth-placed Oblique Seville of Jamaica clocked 9.91 secs..

Sunday's final was the first time eight men have broken 10 secs. in a wind-legal 100m race. 

It was also the closest 1-2 finish in the 100 since at least Moscow in 1980 - or maybe even ever. 

Back then, Britain's Allan Wells narrowly beat Silvio Leonard in an era when the electronic timers didn't go down into the thousandths of a second.

Lyles is now the favorite to win the 200 meters along with Canada's Andre De Grasse later this week - his better race. 

He will try to join Usain Bolt as the latest runner to win both Olympic sprints.