As the Diamond League makes its stop in London on July 19, all eyes will be on Noah Lyles, but conspicuously absent from the starting lineup is Kishane Thompson, the Jamaican speedster whose rapid rise and bold declarations had set the stage for a potential blockbuster rematch.
Thompson, who rocketed to sixth on the all-time 100m list with a blistering 9.75-second victory at the Jamaican National Championship on June 27, seemed poised to go head-to-head with Lyles again after their razor-thin finish in Paris.
Just weeks ago, Thompson spoke candidly about his hunger to face off with the American star.
“I’m a very competitive person,” he said ahead of the Diamond League meet in Oregon.
“When he’s ready to step back on the track and we meet, it’s going to be fireworks for sure.”
Yet, when the London Diamond League 100m entry list was unveiled, Thompson’s name was missing, and it didn’t go unnoticed. The field at the London Stadium is packed with sprinting firepower: South Africa’s Akani Simbine, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Louie Hinchliffe, and Welsh sprinter Jeremiah Azu.
Lyles, still sharpening his form ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo later this year, will be the headline act. But the absence of Thompson, who openly sought this duel, has left many puzzled.
There’s been no official word on why Thompson withdrew or was left out of the London meet. Whether it’s part of a tactical decision, recovery plan, or something undisclosed, his omission has stirred speculation. The Diamond League calendar now leaves few, if any, opportunities for the two to meet before the global stage in Tokyo, pushing their rematch further into uncertainty.
The sprint world thrives on rivalries. Just as one seemed to be catching fire, fans will have to wait. For now, Noah Lyles will step onto the track in London without the man who came within five-thousandths of a second of defeating him in Paris.