The build-up to the men’s Olympic 100m final on Sunday night was disrupted after an individual attempted to gain access to the track.
Noah Lyles won gold for the United States after a dramatic photo finish was required to separate him and Jamaica’s Olympic debutant Kishane Thompson, who was favourite heading into the race after posting the fastest time of anyone in the three semi finals.
Lyles finished 0.005 seconds ahead of Thompson to win the first Olympic gold medal of his career, while fellow United States sprinter Fred Kerley took bronze.
Before the start of the 100m final, spectators inside the Stade de France were treated to a stunning light show before the eight sprinters were individually introduced by the stadium announcer.
Having made their way to the track, the athletes were then forced to endure a wait in excess of three minutes before they were ordered to position themselves on the starting blocks.
Dramatic music was playing inside the Stade de France while the sprinters waited ahead of the start line, however, the delay was considered excessive by both commentators and fans.
But it has since emerged that moments before the sprinters walked out from the backstage area for the 100m final, a person was tackled by security as they attempted to get on the track.
The individual, who was wearing a T-shirt which read, ‘free Palestine, free Ukraine’ on the front, was led away by four members of security staff.
When it was pointed out that someone had attempted to gain access to the track before the start of the 100m final, Lyles said in his post-race press conference: ‘Is that what we were waiting for?
‘I didn’t see anybody try to get on the field. But I was wondering what we were waiting for, not gonna lie.
‘But, in the meantime, the crowd were constantly getting more and more hyped. It didn’t feel as if it was completely dead.’
Kerley, who was also in the press conference with Lyles, shrugged and added: ‘We didn’t see nothing.’
Thompson also shook his head when asked if he had seen any commotion before the start of the race.
It has not been officially confirmed that the track invader was the reason behind the delay.
Former Team GB hurdler Colin Jackson said during the BBC’s coverage of the race: ‘I’m looking down at the track to see if there are any issues, any problems, because we know this race was supposed to start at least three minutes ago. There doesn’t seem to be anything happening.
‘This is very frustrating for them because this is the biggest race of the year.’
Denise Lewis, who won gold in the heptathlon at Sydney 2000, also said during the BBC’s coverage: ‘I have to say that it’s a little bit unfair to the athletes themselves.
‘You get yourself to that arousal point where you’re in the zone, you’re absolutely wanting to give everything and then that is just waning slightly, the longer you’re left out there.
‘This is the finite margins we’re talking about and that for me was just way too long.’
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