American sprinter Noah Lyles earned the gold medal in the men’s 100-meter dash by the slimmest of margins – just five-thousandths of a second – at the Paris Olympics on Sunday night, edging out Kishane Thompson of Jamaica.

His win gave the United States the title for the first time in 20 years, since Justin Gatlin in 2004, and cements Lyles as the premier American superstar in this sport as the charismatic 27-year-old sprinter had already been one of the top faces of track and field with his blazing speed and viral moments.

In a blanket finish, Lyles believed he had left it too late to catch the powerful Thompson, but the giant screen confirmed him as the winner in a personal best 9.79 seconds, the same time as the Jamaican, but ahead by the width of a vest.

Halfway through, Lyles was still in seventh place in an eight-man field, trying to chase down Thompson, who owned not only this season’s fastest time but also the fastest time in the semifinal round contested earlier Sunday, according to international media.

By the final steps Lyles had caught up so much to Thompson, American Fred Kerley, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine that he did something he rarely practices — dipping his shoulder at the finish.

The pack of panting sprinters gathered at the northeastern bend in the track, doubled over catching their breath while they stared up at the big screen, waiting for results. For a while, it only read 'Photo,' indicating a photo finish.

When the results appeared, it showed Lyles had won his first Olympic gold medal in 9.79 seconds — a personal best that keeps him on the path to earn the four gold medals that he has described as his goal for months.

It also puts him on track to become the first runner to win both the 100m and 200m at a single Olympics since Usain Bolt did it three consecutive times from 2008 to 2016.

Despite Thompson's foot crossing the line first, Lyles pulled back in the second half of the race ultimately leaning with his chest to claim the gold medal.

According to Olympic rules, the clock stops when an athlete's torso crosses the line, not the first body part.

"I did not think I won, I didn't think I dipped at the right time, too early," Lyles said. 

"I even went up to Kishane while we were waiting and said 'I think you got that one.' But then my name popped up and I thought 'oh my gosh, I'm amazing'."

American Fred Kerley took bronze in 9.81 and Akani Simbini of South Africa was fourth, making it a remarkable six fourth- or fifth-placed finishes in global championships, albeit with the consolation of a national record time of 9.83.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, heavily strapped, finished fifth in 9.85 and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also set a national record with 9.86 in sixth.

Lyles had secured a world championship in the 100m only 12 months ago, as part of the three golds at those 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.