The United States is a regular on the podium for the men’s 100-meter dash.
The U.S. has had at least one medalist in 26 of the 30 Olympic Summer Games dating back to 1896. In 14 of the past 30, the nation has multiple medalists.
Jesse Owens, Carls Lewis, and now Noah Lyles are just a few names to win gold. Lyles is the latest winner of the 100-meter dash, breaking the country’s 20-year drought of having a gold medalist in the race.
With lines pic.twitter.com/MmBTxezbno
— Stuart Wexler (@jomolungma) August 4, 2024
His victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics was a literal photo finish (see above), coming by just five thousandths of a second as he edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. Before Lyles brought the gold back to the United States, here’s who won the last U.S. gold medal in the 100-meter dash.
MORE: Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley win gold, bronze in 100-meter dash at 2024 Paris Olympics
Who is the last USA man to win gold in the 100-meter dash?
The United States has a long history of success in the men’s 100-meter dash, having won gold 16 times prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
That said, the nation has been starved for a gold in said race since 2004 at the Athens Games. Justin Gatlin won the last USA men’s 100-meter gold medal prior to the 2024 Summer Games.
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Lyles breaks the streak, giving the U.S. its 17th gold medal in the history of this race.
Usain Bolt was a major reason why the United States remained without any gold medals over the past 20 years. The Jamaican sprinter won three straight gold medals from 2008-2016. He still owns the world record with a 9.58 finish in the world championships in 2009.
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The United States medaled in each year since 2004, but nobody could quite catch Bolt. Walter Dix placed third in 2008, Gatlin earned third and second in 2012 and 2016, respectively, and Fred Kerley, who claimed the bronze this year, finished second in 2020.
Lyles’ victory was a historic photo finish that broke a two-decade drought to put USA back on top.
