Noah Lyles‘ 100-meter photo finish from Sunday’s events was so mind-bogglingly good. But there’s a frame-by-frame photo of the race that might be even better.
The 2024 Paris Olympics men’s final will be talked about for quite some time. In the immediate aftermath, fans were stunned at just how close it ended. Also, for several moments, it was unclear from NBC’s broadcast who won.
In the end, Lyles beat Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson with an absolutely killer photo finish. Noah managed to lean just as he crossed the finish line, sealing the deal. Getty Images photographer Hector Vivas captured his incredible run with a spectacular eight-frame composite photo.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 04: General view as Noah Lyles of Team United States competes the Men’s 100m Final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. Layers of the Games shows in one image the multiple moments that happen during a game or a day of competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from a fixed camera. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Here’s another look at Vivas’ digital masterpiece:
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 04: General view as Noah Lyles of Team United States competes the Men’s 100m Final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. Layers of the Games shows in one image the multiple moments that happen during a game or a day of competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from a fixed camera. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Richardson is so good that it’s hard to imagine the biggest races in the world without her these days. But that was the reality just a few years ago when she was noticeably absent from the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Richardson didn’t get to race in Tokyo, but it didn’t have much to do with ability. Let’s take a look back at why.
Why wasn’t Sha’Carri Richardson in the Tokyo Olympics?
Richardson was shockingly suspended for one month by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for marijuana. Her monthlong suspension prevented her from competing in the race at the Tokyo Games, where she would’ve easily contended for a medal.
She could’ve still competed in the 4×100-meter relay in the 2021 games, but was completely left off the roster.
Wow. That sounds like a terrible time
It was rough. Very rough. For all the fans out there, people were fired up to watch her race in Tokyo. But this didn’t impact anyone more than Richardson, herself, who was clearly devastated after missing out on the opportunity.
Richardson tweeted this after the news broke.
I am human
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itsshacarri) July 1, 2021
It was hard not to feel bad for her. Richardson had just lost her biological mother and was going through a lot in life at that moment. For her to miss out on competing at the highest level was surely devastating.
“I don’t just mean I’m a better runner,” Richardson tells me when I ask about her credo. “It’s beyond that. I’m better at being Sha’Carri. I’m better at being myself.”
That’s definitely been reflected in the way that she runs. She seems ready to seize her opportunity in Paris this year.
