‘These boys came to play,’ gasps Noah Lyles as US star sprinter suffers shock defeat during 100m heat at Paris Olympics

AMERICAN sprint superstar Noah Lyles was beaten in his 100m heat at the Paris Olympics, but vowed to come back strong when he goes for gold on Sunday.

Lyles finished behind Great Britain’s Louie Hinchliffe in his heat at the Stade de France on Saturday.

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Hinchliffe recorded a time of 9.98, ahead of Lyles and his time of 10.04.

But Lyles, who won World Championship 100m gold in Budapest last year, vowed it wouldn’t happen again this weekend.

The semi-finals and final of the men’s 100m final are both scheduled to take place on Sunday.

“These boys said they were coming to play,” Lyles said.

“That’s my first lesson in underestimating the power of the Olympics.

“When somebody’s on the line, they’re going to give it their all or nothing.

“But now I don’t have to hold back. I’m ready to go.”

Lyles was unusually candid in the middle of such a big competition, openly admitting he “downplayed” the competition going into this Paris Games.

“I downplayed my competitors for sure,” Lyles said.

“I was like, ‘There’s no reason to really put any emphasis on it.’

“But these guys proved to me that they’re ready to compete.

“I said, ‘All right, I can’t do that anymore.’ I promise that will not happen again.”

The other highlights of the opening stages of the 100m included Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, the current world leader in the event, winning his heat in 10,00.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and South African Akani Simbine were among the other heat winners.

The men’s 100m at the Olympics is traditionally seen as one of the biggest events in sport.

How to watch the Olympics

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The Olympics are headed to Paris in July, but don’t worry if can’t catch a flight to France , we’ve got you covered.

You can watch all of the action from the comfort of your own home, and there’s still time to get your stream sorted:

• Peacock
• Hulu
• Sling

You can also follow The U.S. Sun for all the latest from this year’s biggest sporting event .

It feels like the hype surrounding the event has lessened since the retirement of Jamaican icon Usain Bolt .

But NBC will be expecting a big Sunday afternoon television audience to tune in and watch the race across the United States.

In the women’s 100m on Saturday, Julian Alfred claimed St Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal as she claimed a famous victory in a time of 10.72.

World champion Sha’Carri Richardson took silver for the United States in 10.87.

Another American, Melissa Jefferson, took bronze with a time of 10.92.