Noah Lyles Misses Major USA-Jamaica Dominated 100M Rivalry Despite Tokyo World Championships Bronze.

Noah Lyles Misses Major USA-Jamaica Dominated 100M Rivalry Despite Tokyo World Championships Bronze.

 

Tokyo, Japan — In a striking display at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, Noah Lyles added a bronze medal to his haul in the 100‑metres, finishing behind Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (gold) and Kishane Thompson (silver). Seville clocked a personal best of 9.77 seconds, Thompson followed with 9.82s, while Lyles crossed the line in 9.89s.

Despite this podium finish, Lyles’ performance underlines a glaring omission: he once again falls short of entering the elite all‑time top ten list in the 100m, a roster sharply dominated by Jamaican and American sprinters.

Dominance by Jamaica and USA

The men’s 100m has long been the marquee event in track and field, its top times a litmus test for sprinting supremacy. In the 2025 season leading into Tokyo, Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson emerged as world leader with a 9.75s run at the Jamaican Championships. Americans like Kenny Bednarek also posted times that placed them among the very fastest of the year.

Seville’s 9.77s not only earned him gold in Tokyo, but also punched his ticket into the all‑time top ranks. He now joins a lineage of speed legends such as Usain Bolt (9.58s), Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin, Christian Coleman, Trayvon Bromell and Fred Kerley among others — a list still missing Lyles despite his status as Olympic champion and one of the sport’s biggest names.

Lyles’ Season and What Bronze Means

Coming into Tokyo, Lyles’ campaign had been disrupted by injury and inconsistent performances in the 100m. While he has continued to show flashes of brilliance, especially in the 200m where he remains a force, his 100m results have not yet matched his own expectations.

After the final, Lyles admitted that he “came out here, I got my best start, I got my best race of the year,” but still acknowledged that his season has been “rushed” and defined by recovery rather than dominance.

What This Tells Us

Seville’s victory marks Jamaica’s first world 100m title since Usain Bolt in 2015, reasserting the island’s sprinting heritage. Meanwhile, Lyles’ absence from the top‑10 all‑time list (in spite of Tokyo bronze) underlines just how exceptional those benchmark times are. It suggests that while podium finishes are vital, sprinting immortality demands consistently elite times — especially in an era where marginal gains matter hugely.

For Lyles, Tokyo is both a success and a reminder: the bronze adds to his growing legacy, but also exposes what remains to be achieved if he hopes to permanently sit alongside the fastest ever. Jamaica’s Seville, by contrast, used this moment not just to win, but to firm his place among the sprinters whose times will be remembered long after the championship fades.