In a dramatic twist at the Paris Olympics, ESPN commentator Shannon Sharpe took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to have his say following the electrifying finish to the men’s 100m final. Noah Lyles from the United States clinched the gold medal, narrowly edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a thousandth of a second, both clocking an impressive 9.79 seconds.
Sharpe, known for his forthright opinions, didn’t hold back in his post-race commentary. He trolled Jamaicans with a provocative message, stating, “Noah smoked Kishane and made Seville tap out.” He went on to mock the brash confidence of the Jamaicans, referencing Thompson’s early season performance of 9.77 seconds which had garnered significant attention, even drawing a comment from the Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Sharpe’s post read: “Where’s all that brash talking you Jamaicans were doing. When Thompson laid down that 9.77 even got the Prime Minister involved. Told you we had something 4 y’all. I get the women were hurt, but Noah smoked Kishane and made Seville tap out,” punctuated by six American flag emojis.
This isn’t Sharpe’s first foray into stirring the pot with his comments. Back in June, he celebrated Sha’Carri Richardson’s remarkable 10.71-second run, which secured her spot at the Paris Olympics, by announcing, “We got something for you. Jamaica women, I am putting y’all on notice,” during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take. He also forecasted the American men’s dominance, saying, “Just get that thing in the hands of Noah Lyles…we got something for you,” ahead of Lyles’ victory at the US-trials with a time of 9.83 seconds.
Noah Lyles’ victory in Paris adds an Olympic champion medal to his already impressive World Championships title, cementing his status as a premier sprinter on the global stage.
In a broader context, this rivalry between Jamaican and American sprinters adds an exciting and competitive edge to the sport, as fans on both sides eagerly anticipate the outcome of each high-stakes race.
For more comprehensive updates on the Paris Olympics and detailed analysis of athletes’ performances, stay tuned to the Olympics News section.
