Last summer in Paris, Kishane Thompson came within a whisker of making history. The young Jamaican sprinter was a mere 0.005 seconds away from claiming Olympic gold in one of the most electrifying 100m finals the world has ever seen. Noah Lyles edged him out, but for a 23-year-old in just his first major final, silver felt like a prelude to greatness.
Yet in the volatile world of sprinting, what you did last year is ancient history. And for Kishane Thompson, whose subsequent months were plagued by injuries, question marks, and a conspicuous absence from big races, whispers of “Was it beginner’s luck?” began to swirl.
Home Turf Heroics, But Is It Enough?
When Kishane Thompson returned to the track at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, the pressure was suffocating. Defending champion Oblique Seville and rising South African prodigy Bayanda Walaza lined up beside him. And Thompson delivered, a blistering 9.88 seconds.
It was a statement race, explosive out the blocks, strong through the transition, and ruthless in the final meters. Seville couldn’t keep up, and Jamaican fans roared their approval.
Yet, outside the National Stadium, skepticism lingered.
On the Ready Set Go podcast, sprint analyst Rodney Green acknowledged Thompson’s brilliance but added a crucial caveat.
“I don’t look too much into what Kishane does when he’s running in Jamaica.”
Sprint legend Justin Gatlin echoed that sentiment.
“Running fast at home gives you that extra boost,” he noted, adding that while the time was impressive, the bigger question is whether Thompson can reproduce, or better, those performances on the global stage.
Simbine’s Scorching Form Sets the Bar
The problem for Kishane Thompson is that the competition isn’t waiting for him to figure it out. Akani Simbine, the 31-year-old South African sprint veteran, is in career-best form.
He opened his season with a bronze medal in the 60m at the World Indoors in Nanjing, his first individual global podium. Then came a world-leading 9.90s at the Botswana Grand Prix. Add to that an unprecedented 11 consecutive sub-10 seasons, surpassing even Usain Bolt’s legendary consistency.
And he hasn’t slowed since. In the 2025 Diamond League, Simbine has claimed gold in Xiamen (9.99s), Atlanta (9.86s), and Rabat (9.95s). He’s delivering not just fast times, but winning under pressure, against elite fields, and away from home, precisely what Thompson’s critics say he must do.
Anthony’s Rapid Rise Can’t Be Ignored
If Simbine is the seasoned predator, Jordan Anthony is the fearless cub quickly becoming a lion. The American sprint sensation dominated the NCAA Indoor 60m circuit (winning both SEC and national titles) before scorching a 9.98s at the Mt. SAC Relays, his first legal sub-10.
Then, at the SEC Championships, Anthony doubled up, clocking 9.95s in the 100m and a jaw-dropping 19.93s in the 200m. Most recently, he blasted through the NCAA West Regionals with a wind-aided 9.75s, the second-fastest all-conditions time in collegiate history.
Thompson’s Next Move Is Crucial
With a new wave of fearless sprinters closing in, the real test for Thompson is stringing together world-class performances on unfamiliar tracks, under unforgiving lights, in front of global crowds.
As the National Trials, Diamond League meets, and the World Championships looming, the stage is set. Thompson will need to prove that his speed isn’t just Kingston-fast, it’s world-class.