Heading into the summer of 2025, the battle for dominance in the men’s 100 meters is heating up—and two names stand out above the rest: Kishane Thompson of Jamaica and Noah Lyles of the United States.
Following his silver-medal finish behind Lyles in a historicly close 2024 Paris Olympic final—where both men posted 9.79 seconds, separated by merely five-thousandths—Thompson has emerged as the fastest sprinter of the current season, clocking a staggering 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican Championships in June 2025 . This mark currently ranks as a world-leading time and the fastest by any sprinter in a decade .
Thompson’s consistency is equally impressive. He captured his first-ever Diamond League win in Eugene with a time of 9.85 seconds and dominated the men’s 100m there . These performances underscore his rising status as the sprinter to beat.
On the other side, Noah Lyles, the reigning Olympic champion and one of the most charismatic figures in the sport, still commands global respect. He clinched the Paris gold in a personal best of 9.784 seconds, maintaining his title as “fastest man in the world” . Lyles is also a multi-time World Champion across both the 100m and 200m, bringing powerhouse pedigree to any race .
That said, Lyles’s dominance has faced challenges this season. He was beaten by Oblique Seville in the London Diamond League with a 10.00-second run after an ankle injury hampered his start . Moreover, recent rankings place Lyles outside the top 10 in the 100m this year—he currently trails behind Thompson, who leads the standings .
Despite that, Lyles shows no signs of backing down. His fire was evident after the U.S. Championships when he clashed—both figuratively and literally—with Kenny Bednarek in a dramatic 200m showdown. It resulted in both athletes entering the upcoming Diamond League in Lausanne with high stakes and bristling intent .
So who is the current gold-medal favorite?
If the question rests solely on raw early-season performance, Kishane Thompson leads the pack—his 9.75 is both the fastest and most consistent time of 2025 thus far .
However, if the measure includes championship pedigree, versatility, and mental strength under pressure, Noah Lyles still stands tall. His Olympic gold, multiple world titles, and trademark confidence carve him out as a formidable force in any final .
In essence, the gold-medal favorite is now a dual narrative: Thompson flashes the speed; Lyles bears the experience. The upcoming Diamond League clashes and, ultimately, the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo promise to deliver the definitive answer to this defining sprinter rivalry.
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