Olympic gold and silver medalists Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson prepare to go head-to-head in the men’s 100m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia on August 16.
This much-anticipated clash marks the first meeting between the American and Jamaican sprinters since their unforgettable final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. There, Lyles clinched the gold in a photo finish over Thompson, with both athletes clocking 9.79 seconds, the narrowest of margins separating the two by just five thousandths of a second.
Now, one year and two weeks later, the world’s fastest men return to the track at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Poland. The rematch is not only a continuation of a budding rivalry but also a possible preview of the World Athletics Championships final in Tokyo later this year.
The Olympic Rematch
Kishane Thompson enters Silesia in sensational shape. The Jamaican speedster clocked the world’s fastest time this season, 9.75 seconds, at the national championships in Kingston this June. He followed that up with his first-ever Diamond League victory, sprinting to a dominant 9.85 win at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Currently sitting third in the Diamond League 100m standings with 13 points, Thompson is on track for a strong finish to the season.
While Noah Lyles remains a force in the sprints, his 2025 season has been disrupted by injury. He suffered a surprise loss to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in his first 100m race of the year at the London Diamond League. However, Lyles showed glimpses of his best form in Monaco, where he launched his 200m Diamond League campaign with a victory over Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in 19.88 seconds.
Despite currently being outside the 100m qualification spots for the Diamond League Final, ranked 14th, a strong performance in Silesia could help Lyles climb the leaderboard and punch his ticket to Zurich.
Zurich Final Beckons
Both sprinters have their sights set not only on bragging rights but also on valuable points toward qualification for the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich on August 27–28. Thompson’s position looks secure, while Lyles faces an uphill task to make the cut.
The Wanda Diamond League is the pinnacle of one-day athletics competitions, featuring 15 world-class meetings that bring together the sport’s biggest stars. Athletes earn points across 14 series meetings, vying for a spot in the two-day season finale in Zurich, where Diamond League champions are crowned.
With pride, points, and prestige on the line, all eyes will be on Silesia as Lyles and Thompson reignite one of the fiercest sprint rivalries in modern athletics.
