Last night, Olympics viewers witnessed history as eight of the fastest men on the planet took part in the 100m final in Paris.
And what a truly spectacular final it was.
On Sunday (August 4), viewers around the world watched as Team USA’s Noah Lyles won gold in what has now become the fastest race in history - with all eight participants crossing the finish line in under 10 seconds, per The Telegraph.
Despite some viewers feeling that Kishane Thompson was “robbed” due to the fact that the Jamaican star’s foot crossed the finish line first, Olympic rules state that the race is decided on the competitors’ torsos, with Lyles snatching the win.
To call it a “close race” would be one heck of an understatement, with Lyles claiming gold with a time of 9.79784 seconds, while Thompson crossed the finish line in 9.79789.
That’s right - a microscopic five-thousandths of a second separated gold and silver.
But regardless of how intense the race and aftermath was, the moments leading up to the final were also left the athletes and viewers on tenterhooks.
Viewers were quick to realize that something was wrong when it took minutes for the race to start after the runners had emerged from the tunnel.
“My heart rate is going so fast by this 100m race final. Why is it taking so long to start?”, one person asked, while another added: “WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG?! START THE RACE!”
Well, as it turns out, there was a legitimate cause for the delay - as one of the Chief Organizers to the Paris 2024 Games - Tony Estanguet - explained.
Per News.com.au, Estanguet said on Sunday following the race: "There was an attempted pitch invasion at the 100m final."
Photos have since emerged on social media showing security personnel manhandling the invader and wrestling them to the ground on the edge of the track.
"The private security reacted very well. They are well prepared, they are rigorous, they are professional, and the police are doing a great job," added Estanguet.
No motive was given for the attempted track invasion.
Prior to winning his first gold in Paris, Lyles explained why he is so focused on securing four gold medals at this year's Olympics.
Speaking to The Times, he explained that he wants his name to go down in history for achieving something that's never been done before. "I can grab three but Bolt has done that," Lyles said. "I can do two Olympics in a row, but Bolt has done that too.
“A field event? Nope, been done. So I really have to look. What’s left on the table that could put me on my Mount Rushmore, make people say, ‘Not only was he great, but he did something that hasn’t been done?’"
