- Status: Active
- Height: 185 cm (6’1”)
- Weight: ~85 kg (187 lb)
- Age: 23
- Birthday: July 17, 2001
- Nationality: Jamaican
- Events: 60m, 100m, 200m
Kishane Thompson Honours
- 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist in the 100m (9.79 seconds)
- 2024 Jamaican national Champion in the 100m (9.77 seconds)
Kishane Thompson Career
Thompson has made a big impact in the sprints in his short time competing professionally, having already picked up an Olympic silver medal and running one of the fastest times in history.
Thompson debuted in the Diamond League, the top athletics circuit, in July 2023 at the Herculis EBS Monaco Meeting. He ran 10.04 seconds to secure fifth.
In September of the same year, he improved his personal best to 9.85 seconds and finished second in the Wanda Diamond League Xiamen. At his final Diamond League competition of the year in Eugene, he finished fourth with a time of 9.87 seconds.
Kishane Thompson’s Breakout
Thompson’s personal best of 9.85 seconds from 2023 had already established him one of the top short sprinters in the world, but 2024 would be the year he really established himself.
In June 2024, he lowered his personal best in the 100 meters to 9.82 seconds in the preliminary round at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in Kingston. He followed up this time with another personal best of 9.77 seconds in the final. The time won the competition, edging out Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, who ran 9.82 seconds and 9.92 seconds respectively.
Thompson’s time of 9.77 seconds would remain the fastest time in the world in 2024 throughout the season, ahead of Noah Lyles’ Olympic-winning time and Ferdinand Omanyala’s winning time at the Kenyan Olympic trials of 9.79 seconds.
Perhaps most impressively, The Olympic Trials was Thompson’s first race in the 100 meters of the season.
Kishane Thompson 2024 Olympic Games
Kishane Thompson went into the 2024 Olympic Games as one of the favorites, along with the defending World Champion Noah Lyles, to win the 100 meters in a competitive field. After easily making it through the preliminary round with a time of 10.00 seconds, he ran a time of 9.80 seconds in the semi-finals to win his heat and qualify for the finals.
The final would go down as the deepest men’s 100 meter field in Olympic history. All eight men ran 9.91 seconds or faster. At first glance, it appeared that Thompson edged out Lyles at the finish line. Even several announcers such Leigh Diffey of NBC initially called Thompson the winner.
However, after review with the photo finish, it was found that Lyles’ more aggressive lean at the finish line captured him gold by five-thousandths of a second.
Both men’s times rounded to 9.79 seconds. Fred Kerley won bronze with a time of 9.81 seconds.
2025 Season and Onward
Thompson ran a new personal best in the 60 meter of 6.48 seconds in January. The time put him fifth on the Jamaican all-time list, even though he ran into a -2.1m/s headwind.
He opened his season in the 100 meters with a sub-ten-second time of 9.99 seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League Meeting, taking home silver behind Akani Simbine, who ran 9.98 seconds.
Personal Life and Other Facts
Thompson’s time of 9.77 seconds makes him the fourth fastest sprinter in Jamaican history. He’s in good company, behind Asafa Powell (9.72 seconds and former world record), Yohan Blake (9.69 seconds), and Usain Bolt (9.58 seconds and world record).
Thompson is coached by Stephen “Franno” Francis with the MVP club in Jamaica. Francis has a long coaching legacy in Jamica, having coached the previous four Jamaican women’s 100 meter champions and having worked with Asafa Powell.
After graduating from high-school as a promising young sprinter, Thompson declined a scholarship to Iowa Western Community College because he didn’t want to be away from his twin brother Kishaun. He has an amulet that he shares with his brother, which he kisses as part of his ritual before getting into the starting blocks.
He is currently studying for a degree in sports management at the University of Technology.
FAQS
How old is Kishane Thompson?
Kishane Thompson was born on July 17, 2001. He will turn 24 before the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Where Is Kishane Thompson From?
Kishane Thompson is from Jamaica.
Where was Kishne Thompson born?
Kishane Thompson was born in Mitchell Town, Jamaica.
- Date Last Modified: May 14, 2025