Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Leigh Diffey on Botched Paris Olympics 100 Meters Call: "I Got It Wrong."
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 10 months ago on
August 5, 2024

Kishane Thompson, of Jamaica, Noah Lyles, of the United States, right, and Fred Kerley, of the United States, left, wait for the official results after finishing the men's 100 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Lyles won, Thompson was second and Kerley third. (AP/Ashley Landis)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

PARIS — NBC announcer Leigh Diffey said “I got it wrong” on his botched Paris Olympics call that incorrectly identified Kishane Thompson of Jamaica as winner of the 100 meters. The race was a photo finish and went to American sprinter Noah Lyles.

Diffey, NBC’s regular play-by-play announcer for IndyCar who is calling his sixth Olympics and second track and field competition, took responsibility for his rush to declare a winner in a social media post Monday.

“The men’s 100 was epic & closest of all time! My eyes & instinct told me Kishane Thompson won,” Diffey wrote. “Obviously, that wasn’t the case. I shouldn’t have been so bold to call it, but I genuinely thought he won. I got it wrong.”

He added he was thrilled for Lyles “as his story only gets bigger!” Lyles, the first American to win the event since Justin Gatlin 20 years ago, will try to make it a sweep later this week when he goes for gold in the 200 meters.

Diffey declined to offer much more comment when reached by The Associated Press, saying “I’d rather not fuel the fire.”

“They’re all experts after it’s over, right? I trusted my eyes and instinct and got it wrong by .0005 seconds,” Diffey told AP.

Lyles and Thompson Await Results

The race was so close that even Lyles seemed to think he had lost to Thompson as they waited for the results to be posted on the big screen at Stade de France.

Seconds earlier, Diffey had given the win to Thompson.

“There’s an Olympic gold medal waiting for somebody,” Diffey said as the race began. “Who wants it the most? … This is close. … Jamaica’s gonna do it! Kishane Thompson is a gold medalist!”

Ato Bolden, the NBC analyst alongside Diffey, also thought Thompson was the winner. As Thompson paced the track — yelling “C’mon man!” — Bolden couched his declaration of a winner but believed it was the Jamaican.

“It was a lean at the tape by Thompson, visually we think he got it,” Bolden said. “They’re working on the photo.”

Lyles Celebrates as Diffey Corrects Call

The cameras then focused on Lyles and Diffey noted, “Noah Lyles is looking anxiously,” at the same time that Lyles began to celebrate. It was only then that Diffey declared the correct winner, which was already obvious by Lyles’ celebration.

“It’s Noah Lyles! And it had to go to a photo finish to decide it!” Diffey called. Large gaps of silence followed as Diffey and Boldon regrouped.

Lyles won with a time of 9.784 seconds, while Thompson was clocked at 9.789.

Fred Kerley of the United States won bronze with a time of 9.81, and Diffey was slow to announce that as well, only doing so when Lyles embraced his teammate.

Viewers Pan Diffey’s Mistake

Viewers took to social media to pan Diffey’s mistake, and the call seemed to have been tweaked by NBC in its replay aired in the United States during primetime Sunday to make the error less obvious.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Travel From 12 Countries, CBS News Reports

DON'T MISS

Sunnyvale Pitmaster Smokes Fresno BBQ Competition for Golden Ticket to World Championships

DON'T MISS

What We Know About the Colorado Attack on Israeli Hostage Demonstrators

DON'T MISS

Visalia Motorists Take Note: Traffic Shift Coming to Riggin Avenue

DON'T MISS

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

DON'T MISS

Judge Denies Release in Caleb Quick Killing. Defense Cites Alleged Assaults by Victim

DON'T MISS

Nebraska Is the Latest State to Ban Transgender Students From Girls’ Sports

DON'T MISS

US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding an Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

International Basketball Comes to Fresno: Armenia vs. Costa Rica

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: A New Research Hub in Southeast Fresno?

UP NEXT

Sunnyvale Pitmaster Smokes Fresno BBQ Competition for Golden Ticket to World Championships

UP NEXT

What We Know About the Colorado Attack on Israeli Hostage Demonstrators

UP NEXT

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

UP NEXT

Judge Denies Release in Caleb Quick Killing. Defense Cites Alleged Assaults by Victim

UP NEXT

Nebraska Is the Latest State to Ban Transgender Students From Girls’ Sports

UP NEXT

US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding an Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

UP NEXT

International Basketball Comes to Fresno: Armenia vs. Costa Rica

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: A New Research Hub in Southeast Fresno?

UP NEXT

Fresno’s Southeast Plan Has a $2.2B Price Tag for Phase 1. Can the City Afford It?

UP NEXT

Trump: Putin Said Russia Would Respond to Ukraine Drone Attacks

Visalia Motorists Take Note: Traffic Shift Coming to Riggin Avenue

14 hours ago

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

14 hours ago

Judge Denies Release in Caleb Quick Killing. Defense Cites Alleged Assaults by Victim

14 hours ago

Nebraska Is the Latest State to Ban Transgender Students From Girls’ Sports

14 hours ago

US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding an Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

14 hours ago

International Basketball Comes to Fresno: Armenia vs. Costa Rica

16 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: A New Research Hub in Southeast Fresno?

17 hours ago

Fresno’s Southeast Plan Has a $2.2B Price Tag for Phase 1. Can the City Afford It?

18 hours ago

Trump: Putin Said Russia Would Respond to Ukraine Drone Attacks

18 hours ago

It’s Expensive to Become a Teacher in California. This Bill Would Pay Those Who Try

18 hours ago

Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Travel From 12 Countries, CBS News Reports

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning travel from certain countries, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing administrati...

12 hours ago

12 hours ago

Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Travel From 12 Countries, CBS News Reports

12 hours ago

Sunnyvale Pitmaster Smokes Fresno BBQ Competition for Golden Ticket to World Championships

13 hours ago

What We Know About the Colorado Attack on Israeli Hostage Demonstrators

14 hours ago

Visalia Motorists Take Note: Traffic Shift Coming to Riggin Avenue

14 hours ago

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

Fresno clovis caleb quick
14 hours ago

Judge Denies Release in Caleb Quick Killing. Defense Cites Alleged Assaults by Victim

14 hours ago

Nebraska Is the Latest State to Ban Transgender Students From Girls’ Sports

14 hours ago

US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding an Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend