“I’m trying to go on a win streak that will give me gold medals. If I get my three golds, then fast times are going to come. That’s the sole focus this year — PBs will come when they come — just medals. I’ve only got three silver ones, and I’m trying to get some golds,” said Kenny Bednraek in an interview with the New York Times. His objective is clear: win the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the World Championships. Now throughout the season, he’s been undefeated in the 100m, but if he wants to achieve his goal, there’s looming threat he needs to fend off in the form of not Noah Lyles, but Kishane Thompson.

The fastest men of the 2025 season are going to face off in the semifinals of the Tokyo World Championships, and Noah Lyles has separated himself from Bednarek and Thompson over in Semi 2, while he races in Semi 1. The 100m world champion is facing the likes of Akani Simbine and Ackeem Blake, who aren’t expected to pose a threat to the Olympic champion, who looks set to finish in first place. Simbine did show form early in the season, but then lost his first 100m of 2025 at the London DL- the very race Noah Lyles debuted in. But things are not so easy for his rival Kenny Bednarek.

Kishane Thompson clocked 10.75 at the Jamaican Nationals, not only the fastest of the season but also the fastest anybody has ever run in the past 10 years. Kung-Fu Kenny clocked 10.79 in the USATF Championships, the second-best time of the season in the 100m discipline. These two speed demons are going to clash in the second semifinal of the 100m at the Tokyo World Championships. Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Canada’s Jerome Blake are also in the race, but the real competition is between the national 100 m champions of their respective nations.

Surprisingly enough, it’s the Jamaican who has the upper hand in this face-off. While Noah Lyles snatched up the gold medal in the 100 m final at the Paris Olympics, Thompson, clocking 9.79, secured the silver medal and finished ahead of Bednarek, who came in seventh at 9.88 s. After that, they met again in the Silesia Diamond League, where Thompson once again defeated Bednarek by recording 9.87 seconds on the clock, nine hundredths of a second ahead of the American.

And in Semifinal 3, Oblique Seville, who finished third, clocking in 9.93 s after a slow start, will be facing Letsile Tebogo, who won his heat with a time of 10.07 s. Courtney Lindsey was third in the heat with 10.19 s; he will be joining them in the semifinal. But the main action is expected to happen in the first two semis, and the rivalry between Lyles, Bednarek, and Thompson could enter a whole new dimension.

Noah Lyles’ three words for Bednarek’s race

After his win in his heat, Noah Lyles was standing in the mixed zone, giving interviews, when Bednarek passed by him. Lyles first saw him coming, and then, as he came near, he said, “Good job, bro.” Bednarek was quick to reply with, “You too.” In the 4th Men’s 100m heat of the World Championships, the 100m American champion clocked 10.01 to secure the win ahead of Jerome Blake (10.05s) and Jeremiah Azu (10.10s).

Back in the 200m finals of the USATF Championships, Lyles clocked 19.63s, narrowly beating Kenny Bednarek’s 19.67s, to win the title. After the finish, Bednarek shoved Lyles following some trash talk and a tense stare-down. There was a lot of back and forth after that.But now it feels like the two have let go of that moment. It might have just been a brotherly feud. Lyles won his 100 m heat in 9.95 s, beating Ackeem Blake, who ran 10.07 s, and Terrence Jones in 10.16 s.

Kishane Thompson outran Ronal Longa (3rd-10.21s) and Eliezer Adjibi (2nd-10.19s) with a time of 9.95 seconds in the second heat. Yup, the Olympics rivals just made their show in the finals much more interesting. Moreover, Kishane being faster than Kenny here once again proves that the Kung-Fu-inspired athlete has to worry about his streak. Thompson vs. Bednarek. Who’s winning? Let us know your thoughts.