Kishane Thompson recently lit up the Jamaican Championships with a world-leading 9.75-second run in the 100m, the fastest time recorded since 2015. Yet, despite becoming the sixth-fastest man in history, the 23-year-old sprinter remains unimpressed by his performance, citing poor execution and a need for improvement.
Crossing the finish line ahead of Oblique Seville (9.83) and Ackeem Blake (9.88), Thompson left fans in awe. However, the Olympic silver medallist was quick to point out that the race did not go as planned. He explained that his start was off and that he failed to execute what he had been focusing on in training. He believes that had he followed instructions more closely, the time could have been even faster.
Thompson is keenly aware of the areas he needs to refine, particularly his start and drive phase. He admitted that he didn’t trust himself enough, similar to his experience at the Paris Olympic Games where he narrowly lost to Noah Lyles by just five thousandths of a second both clocking 9.79 seconds. That lack of self-belief, he feels, continues to cost him vital moments in high-stakes races.
His focus now shifts to the World Championships in Tokyo, where he is determined to challenge for gold. Thompson made it clear that he is not satisfied with simply posting fast times; his goal is to master his technique and develop complete confidence in his abilities. He emphasized the importance of patience and step-by-step progress, stating that he wants to go back to the drawing board and start afresh to polish every aspect of his race.
Thompson insists that he’s never surprised by his performances because he knows his own potential. What holds him back, he says, is the hesitation to let his body take full control during races. He’s working to overcome that mental barrier and fully embrace his capabilities on the track.
His blistering time may have shaken the sprinting world, but for Thompson, it’s merely the beginning. With the World Championships on the horizon, he remains focused on fine-tuning every detail, building confidence, and proving that his best is yet to come.
