In the world of sports, every fraction of a second carries immense significance. A single millisecond can separate triumph from defeat, especially in high-stakes competitions like the Olympics and NBA. Timekeeping plays an indispensable role in ensuring fair outcomes in sports, where precision is paramount. One remarkable instance of this precision was witnessed during men's 100m final at the Paris Olympics last August. The race ended with both American sprinter Noah Lyles and Jamaican athlete Kishane Thompson clocking 9.79 seconds. However, advanced timekeeping technology revealed that Lyles was five-thousandths of a second faster, earning him the gold medal.
Alain Zobrist, CEO of Swiss Timing, the technology arm of OMEGA and the official Olympic timekeeper and currently at the NBA Games Paris 2025, shared the intricate details behind this decision in an exclusive interview with SportsTak. NBA has returned to Paris and the league is also celebrating its renewed partnership with Tissot.
"Technology Measures What Humans Cannot See" – Alain Zobrist
Breaking down the thrilling 100m race, Zobrist emphasized the critical role of advanced timekeeping technology in delivering accurate results.
"If you're looking at recent Olympic games in Paris just a few months ago, the 100 meter final in athletics in men's was decided by five thousandths of a second. Noah Lyles won by five thousandths of a second," Zobrist stated.
He explained how such a minuscule margin, invisible to the human eye, was determined using cutting-edge timekeeping equipment.
"This is a margin that is so small that no spectator would see that with the naked eye, so it is the advanced technology that we can see in a very detailed and accurate way who crossed the finish line first."
Furthermore, Zobrist highlighted that modern technology doesn't just determine the winner but also provides a comprehensive breakdown of the race.
"With the latest technologies, we can also tell the full story of the race and explain where and why Noah Lyles actually won the 100 meters."
Zobrist also noted the broader importance of reliable timekeeping, even in other sports like basketball, where games are often decided in the final second.
"If you don't have a timekeeper who you can trust to have the technology to measure time accurately, this wouldn't be fair to players and spectators," he added, underscoring the indispensable role of OMEGA and Tissot in maintaining the integrity of competitive sports.
The Paris Olympics provided a masterclass in how technology and human expertise converge to celebrate fairness and precision in sports.
