What happens when an unknown sprinter from Jamaica nearly pulls off the biggest upset in Olympic history? You get Kishane Thompson’s wild 2025 rollercoaster, and trust me, it’s been one hell of a ride. Picture this: Paris Olympics, 100m final, and this guy nobody saw coming is neck-and-neck with Noah Lyles, the world’s supposed fastest man. Thompson didn’t get the gold, but that silver medal? It might as well have been made of dynamite because it blew up his entire world. “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, talking about the silver. Suddenly, every track fan on the planet knew his name, and the 2025 World Championship year became his moment to prove Paris wasn’t just a fluke. Here’s where it gets interesting, though.

Thompson didn’t just sit around basking in Olympic glory like some athletes might. Even winning the silver wasn’t enough. Right after the win, he said, “I made a mistake. I know my mistakes now. I’m just going to keep on working and doing the best that I can.” And he came out swinging in 2025, and he was swinging hard. Thompson made his indoor debut at the Astana Indoor Meet, the first World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting of 2025, showing everyone he was hungry for more. Back home in Jamaica, he absolutely torched the track with a 6.48-second 60m, and that was just 0.06 seconds off the Jamaican record. The man was on fire, and it looked like 2025 was going to be his year to dominate. But here’s the thing about sports: they’ll humble you faster than you can blink.

Kishane Thompson opened his 2025 outdoor season with second place in the 100m at the 2025 Shanghai Diamond League, running a time of 9.99 seconds and then came some pretty disappointing showings at the World Relays. Suddenly, the whispers started. Was the Olympic silver just beginner’s luck? But champions? They don’t stay down for long. Enter the Racers Grand Prix on home soil – talk about perfect timing for a comeback story.

Thompson was facing serious heat with defending champ Oblique Seville and that electric young gun Bayanda Walaza in the field. What did he do? Absolutely exploded for a season-best 9.88 seconds, and Colin Waitzman, American pole vaulter from “Track World News“, couldn’t contain his excitement: “Kishane Thompson’s race, not to I guess yesterday or two days ago, uh, at this point over in Jamaica, uh, at the Racers Grand Prix, dropping the fourth-fastest time in the world with a 9.98. Uh, I know that I was not sure what we’re going to see from Kishane this year, and he dropped a—like, that’s impressive—like, 9.98 for him. I know he’s also gone through some injury stuff.” Fourth fastest in the world, now that’s how you silence the doubters.

The track world is buzzing again, and for good reason. Noah Williams, American 400m specialist, summed it up perfectly after that Racers Grand Prix performance: “Good race for him on home soil, absolutely in medal contention, absolutely in championship contention. Um, maybe a favorite in some people’s eyes; I think he’s absolutely a favorite to finish top five, no question about it.” With World Championships coming up in September, Kishane Thompson just proved he’s not some one-hit wonder from Paris. That 9.88 wasn’t just fast,  it was a declaration that he almost stole Olympic gold is ready to make September his crowning moment. However, there are whispers of potential hurdles that could impact his crucial July trials.

The quiet storm, Kishane Thompson ready to make some noise

After that heart-stopping photo finish in Paris where Kishane Thompson came within 0.005 seconds of Olympic gold, the 23-year-old Jamaican isn’t dwelling on what might have been. “It’s gone and passed. I can’t look back,” he says simply. That silver medal moment—finishing second to Noah Lyles in one of the most thrilling 100m finals in Olympic history- could have defined many athletes’ careers. For Thompson, it’s just another stepping stone. His world-leading 9.77 at the Jamaican Championships that season showed he belongs among the absolute elite, but he’s already moved his focus to September’s World Championships in Tokyo. What makes his approach fascinating is his rejection of perfectionism.

Working with coach Stephen Francis at Kingston’s MVP Track Club, he’s added indoor racing to sharpen his early-season form, but he’s not chasing perfect times or flawless races. “If it’s perfect, you don’t have any room for improvement,” he explains, showing a maturity beyond his years. The challenge for Thompson has always been staying healthy. Injuries have shadowed his career, including shin splints, hamstring problems, and missing the 2022 World Championships in Eugene due to injury. Even after his Olympic breakthrough, he had to withdraw from the Silesia Diamond League with a hamstring issue picked up in the semi-finals.

This pattern continued into 2025 when he missed the World Indoor Championships due to recurring shin problems. But when he’s healthy, Thompson is electric. Kishane Thompson’s recent second-place finish in Shanghai, running 9.99 behind South Africa’s Akani Simbine, marked just his fourth Diamond League appearance ever. That rarity on the circuit isn’t just about injuries, it’s also about personality. Thompson admits he’s naturally reserved, calling himself someone who usually runs from interviews and public appearances. “I’m not really an outgoing guy. I’m very reserved, cool,” he shared recently, acknowledging that even giving interviews feels outside his comfort zone.

The truth about Kishane Thompson’s career is straightforward: if anything can stop him from reaching his potential, it’s injuries, not talent or competition. When healthy and racing smart, he’s shown he can run with anyone in the world. With Tokyo on the horizon and a clear focus on progress over perfection, Thompson is positioning himself for something special. He’s making an effort to step forward, both in competition and in opening up about his journey, even if it pushes him outside his comfort zone. Assuming his body cooperates, the quiet Jamaican sprinter could be ready to make some serious noise on the world stage.