Sawt Falasteen - Jamaican speed merchant Thompson seeks fast progress in 2025

The 23-year-old, who was little known coming into 2024, came so close to beating Noah Lyles that several broadcasters called it for the Jamaican before the American was finally awarded first place by 0.005 seconds.

"It's gone and passed," Thompson said in an interview. "I can't look back. I mean, I can reflect on my mistakes. I know what I could have done better, what I've done wrong, but it doesn't help if I'm going to be angry.

"I've just got to accept it and move on. It's forward moving from here. I should say it was a great year."

Thompson finished the year as the world's fastest over 100m in 9.77sec, set at the Jamaican championships -- and with that unexpected Olympic medal.

"Honestly, it's a big stepping stone. It has a lot to do with my progress to being a better person and a better athlete," he said.

Thompson spoke to AFP after a morning training session at Stadium East in Kingston with his MVP Track and Field Club teammates, including two-time women's world 200m champion Shericka Jackson, overseen by highly successful coach Stephen Francis.

He has changed his early season preparations this year, running two indoor 60m races, including a trip to the Kazakh capital Astana in January where he manoeuvred his tall frame to victory.

So with a strong winter behind him and free of injury heading into the outdoor season, would Thompson describe his preparations as ideal?

"It's not perfect, the only perfection that I can see is me improving. If it's perfect, you don't have any room for improvement," he said.

"So that's a thing that I love about it. If it's perfect, it means it has reached its peak. For me, you know, it's always about bettering my best."

Thompson's legendary compatriot Usain Bolt set the 100m world record of 9.58sec 16 years ago, but the young man trying to follow in his footsteps said he won't be setting himself a time to beat.

"I won't think about times. I mean, the times are going to come once I listen to my coach's instructions and do, I won't say, the perfect race, but the best race at this given moment in my life," he said.

His sights are fixed on the World Championships in Tokyo in September -- and a chance to topple Lyles this time.

"Japan is the goal where everyone is going for the goal, you know? So that's the aim," he said.

Z.Ramadan--SF-PST