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Stephen Francis has shared insights into Kishane Thompson’s narrow Olympic loss, focusing on critical moments that influenced the outcome.
Jamaican sprint coach Stephen Francis has weighed in on Kishane Thompson’s heartbreakingly narrow loss to Noah Lyles in the men’s 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The race, touted as one of the most thrilling Olympic sprint events in recent history, saw Thompson miss the gold medal by an infinitesimal margin of five one-thousandths of a second.
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In a behind-the-scenes moment from Sprint, Netflix’s track and field docuseries, coach Francis addressed Thompson’s performance, pointing out a key factor that may have cost the Jamaican sprinter the gold medal.
"Your blocks let you down," Francis told Thompson during an episode aired on November 13, 2024.
The seasoned coach suggested that Thompson’s start off the blocks lacked the explosive power required to secure victory against a formidable lineup, which included Lyles, Fred Kerley, Marcell Jacobs, and Kenny Bednarek.
Lyles clinched the gold medal with a time of 9.79 seconds (.784), edging out Thompson, who posted an identical 9.79 seconds but with a slightly slower reaction time of .789.
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It was a bitter pill to swallow for Thompson, whose lightning-fast strides over the latter half of the race brought him agonizingly close to the title of Olympic champion.
The 2024 Paris Olympics men’s 100m final was one of the most anticipated events, bringing together the sport’s finest sprinters.
Thompson, who dominated the Jamaican Olympic Trials with a blistering 9.77 seconds, had entered the Olympics with high hopes and a stated ambition to dethrone Lyles.
"My goal for the Olympics, to of course win that gold medal, and I will put my best out there to do that. I will shock this world. My biggest rival is Noah Lyles. He is the world champion. I won't be intimidated. That hypes me up. It's, 'All right, let's do this,'" Thompson declared in episode 3 of Sprint.
Despite falling short, Thompson’s performance cemented his place among the sport’s elite and underscored the depth of Jamaican sprinting talent.
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Francis, head coach of Jamaica’s MVP track club, is no stranger to grooming champions. With an illustrious roster of athletes including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Asafa Powell, and Shericka Jackson, he knows what it takes to win on the biggest stages.
After the race, Francis maintained that Thompson’s technical misstep at the start might have been decisive.
He noted that while Thompson’s top-end speed and determination were world-class, the race’s razor-thin margin highlighted the importance of a perfect start.
Thompson, visibly disappointed in the docuseries footage, listened intently as Francis offered a mix of critique and encouragement.
"The start is critical, and at this level, every millisecond counts," Francis later elaborated in an interview.
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Thompson’s tenacity and determination have already made him a fan favorite, and with the guidance of a coach like Francis, he is poised to remain a dominant force on the track.
With the 2025 World Athletics Championships on the horizon, the Jamaican sprinter has his eyes firmly set on redemption and a chance to make history.
Francis, too, remains confident in his protégé’s potential.
"Kishane has what it takes to shock the world. This is just the beginning for him," he affirmed.
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