Noah Lyles is the world’s fastest man — thanks in part to his torso

Team USA's Noah Lyles took the gold in the men’s 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics — by five thousandths of a second.

Team USA's Noah Lyles took the gold in the men’s 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics — by five thousandths of a second.

Lyles, who won Sunday with a time of 9.784 seconds, came out just barely ahead of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (who ran in 9.789) and the U.S.’ Fred Kerley (whose time was 9.81).

The race was so close that even the commentators nearly called the wrong winner before the photo finish, which showed Lyles being the first to lean over the finish line even as others managed to step over it before him.

It raises the question: Which part of the body must cross the finish line first to earn the win?

According to Olympic rules and regulations, the first athlete whose torso reaches the closest edge of the finish line is the winner. That means the trunk of the body is what counts, as opposed to the head, limbs or feet.

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/noah-lyles-worlds-fastest-man-thanks-part-torso-rcna165089

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