Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson is emerging as a dominant force, excelling in the 60m and 100m while leading Jamaica’s sprint resurgence.
Olympic 100m silver medalist Kishane Thompson has started his 2025 season with a bang, showcasing his blistering speed and versatility across both outdoor and indoor track events.
After an outstanding 2024 season, where he announced himself as one of the fastest men in the world, Thompson is now navigating a crucial phase of his career—solidifying his status as a top-tier sprinter while adapting to new challenges.
At just 23 years old, Thompson has already proven his ability to perform on the biggest stage. His near-victory in the Olympic 100m final, finishing a mere 0.005 seconds behind Noah Lyles, solidified his position as a force to be reckoned with.
Jamaican great Usain Bolt may have been used to winning on track but he has had to endure painful losses off it, going by the multi-million ventures that lost him big money.
Now, with the 2025 season underway, Thompson is expanding his horizons by competing in the 60m event for the first time and gearing up for another dominant outdoor campaign.
Here are three key things to watch as Kishane Thompson navigates his 2025 track and field season.
1. Adapting to the indoor circuit
One of the most intriguing aspects of Thompson’s 2025 season is his venture into indoor track racing. His debut at the Astana Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan provided a glimpse of his potential in the 60m sprint, where he clinched victory despite challenging travel conditions.
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While the transition from outdoor to indoor racing can be difficult, Thompson’s explosive start and acceleration make him well-suited for the 60m dash, a race that rewards sprinters with exceptional reaction time and top-end speed.
Indoor competition presents new challenges, including tighter turns, different track surfaces, and the necessity of perfecting block starts.
For a sprinter like Thompson, whose strengths lie in his ability to maintain top-end speed over 100m, mastering the first 30 meters will be crucial.
His 6.48-second performance in Spanish Town earlier this year was just 0.06 seconds shy of the Jamaican record, suggesting he has the tools to succeed in the event.
If he continues to fine-tune his start, he could establish himself as a contender in the World Athletics Indoor Championships, should he choose to compete.
2. Building on his Olympic breakthrough
The 2024 Paris Olympics marked Thompson’s arrival on the global stage. His 9.789-second finish in the 100m final was the closest silver-medal finish in Olympic history and proved that he could compete with the world’s best under immense pressure.
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The question for 2025 is whether he can use that experience to take the next step and establish himself as the dominant sprinter in the 100m.
With a personal best of 9.77 seconds, Thompson is already among the fastest Jamaicans of all time.
However, to consistently challenge the likes of Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley, he will need to refine his race execution, particularly his start and mid-race transition. His acceleration in the latter half of races is exceptional, but improving his reaction time and early phase speed could make him even more dangerous.
One key area of development will be his ability to maintain peak form across an entire season.
The Paris Olympics showcased his ability to perform in a single high-stakes event, but maintaining that level across Diamond League meets, World Championships and other key competitions will be the ultimate test.
3. Jamaica’s sprinting resurgence and his role in it
Jamaica has long been a powerhouse in sprinting, producing legends like Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake.
However, in recent years, the country has struggled to maintain its dominance, particularly in the men’s 100m.
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Thompson’s rise represents a potential turning point, as he, along with Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, leads a new generation of Jamaican sprinters aiming to restore the nation’s supremacy.
Thompson’s presence at the top of world sprinting provides Jamaica with a strong anchor for upcoming international competitions, including the World Athletics Championships and future Olympic Games.
His rivalry with other top sprinters will also push him to new heights, as competition within the Jamaican squad remains fierce.
Jamaican sprinters are known for their ability to peak at the right time, and if Thompson continues on his upward trajectory, he could become the next global sprinting icon.
His journey in 2025 will be about more than just individual success—it will also shape the direction of Jamaican sprinting for years to come.
