After watching Kishane Thompson scorch the track at the Jamaican Championships, US sprint legend Justin Gatlin believes something special is unfolding.
Thompson’s blistering time not only made him the sixth-fastest man in history over 100 meters, but also marked the fastest sprint recorded globally in nearly a decade.
At just 24 years old, Thompson sliced two hundredths off his previous best of 9.77 seconds, clocked last season, doing so with a calm demeanor and seemingly minimal strain. His 9.80-second semifinal was already impressive. His 9.75 in the final sent shockwaves.
And Justin Gatlin, a former Olympic and world champion who knows the terrain of elite sprinting all too well, wasn’t about to let the moment slip by unnoticed. Speaking on the Tidal League Podcast, Gatlin made a bold claim.
“So let’s talk about Kishane, man,” Gatlin opened.
“He went out there and ran 9.77 last year, and then he double-backed around this year and dropped to 9.75 at the Nationals.”
With each word, Gatlin hinted at something stirring beneath the surface. He noted how Thompson’s post-race interviews often include cryptic confidence, particularly the now-frequent phrase: “We got something brewing.”
“They cooking something over there,” Gatlin said.
“Insinuating that he can run faster, or he has run faster, than time has shown.”
Rodney Green, who joined the conversation, pointed to the technical evolution behind Thompson’s latest performance.
“He followed exactly the cues that his coach gave him,” Green said.
“He ran through the line this year. I definitely think it was a good, confident run for him.”
Thompson’s semifinals gave hints of what was coming, but it was the final that cemented it. Running a 9.80 earlier in the evening, then returning just two hours later to drop 0.05 seconds, is a feat that few can manage, and even fewer can make look effortless.
Gatlin didn’t mince words about what this could mean for the future of sprinting:
“If he’s running faster than 9.77, 9.75, then watch out, world.”
And Thompson is more than just physically ready, he’s mentally primed for greatness.
“I’m never going to surprise myself, because I know how capable I am,” he told reporters.
“Even if I break the world record, it wouldn’t surprise me because I’m that confident. I’m working to achieve all my goals and the accolades.”
Whether this is his peak or simply the beginning of a legendary chapter, the world is now watching Kishane Thompson.
