American speedster Noah Lyles has won the 100 metres at the Paris Olympics in a dramatic photo finish.

Lyles crossed the finish line with a gold-medal winning time of 9.79, with Jamaican Kishane Thompson clocked at the same time before the reigning world champion was declared the winner by five thousandths of a second.

Lyles’ USA team-mate Fred Kerley rounded out the podium in 9.81 in one of the most competitive finals of all time.

The 27-year-old is the first American sprinter to win an Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100m since Justin Gatlin won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.

His Paris Games time was a personal best, overhauling his rival in the second half of the race although in a blanket finish all eight finalists stunningly finished within 0.12 seconds of the winner.

The stadium scoreboard initially flashed a photo finish for the first seven athletes.

Lyles, who won three golds at last year’s world championships, sprinted away in celebration once the result was official.

“It’s the one I wanted, it’s the hard battle, it’s the amazing opponents,” said Lyles.

“Everybody came prepared for the fight and I wanted to prove that I’m the man among all of them, I’m the wolf among wolves.”

Defending Olympic champion Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs finished fifth in 9.85 seconds.

It was the first time eight men have broken 10 seconds in a wind-legal 100 metres race.

Lyles is targeting further Paris gold in the 200m and relay events.