After the legendary Usain Bolt's dominance in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games, where he won an unprecedented three consecutive 100m and 200m double golds, Bolt made it look easy, but being that fast is extremely difficult. Bolt was the first man to win both sprint events at the same Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984. the world has been eagerly awaiting the rise of the next sprinting phenomenon. Enter Noah Lyles, the 26-year-old American sprinter, who has been making waves in the athletics world with his remarkable performances.
Lyles has already established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the 200m event, having won three consecutive gold medals at the World Athletics Championships from 2019 to 2023. This feat places him second on the world's all-time list for 200m golds at the World Championships, trailing only the great Usain Bolt himself.
While his dominance in the 200m is undisputed, Lyles has also set his sights on the 100m event, aiming to emulate Bolt's legendary double. In 2023, he achieved a remarkable feat by winning both the 100m and 200m at the World Athletics Championships, a feat that earned him the prestigious World Athlete of the Year (Men) award.
Lyles' performances in the 200m have been nothing short of extraordinary. In August 2023, he clocked an impressive 19.80 seconds in Zurich, extending his unbeaten streak in the event to over two years. With four athletes running under 19.80 seconds in 2024, including his American teammate Kenneth Bednarek's 19.67 seconds, the competition is heating up, but Lyles is expected to rise to the challenge.
In the 100m event, Lyles has been strategically focusing his efforts, recognizing the need to improve his dominance in the shorter sprint. During the 2024 season, he finished second at the Racers Grandprix men's 100m finals with a time of 9.85 seconds, just behind Oblique Seville's world-leading 9.82 seconds.
Lyles is known for his unwavering motivation and dedication, traits that were exemplified when he learned of Erriyon Knighton's 19.49-second 200m time in 2022. At that time, Lyles was the best 200m athlete in the world, But his personal best was 19.50s. As Lyles himself recounted, "I was driving just to go hang out for the night with my friends, we're gonna go get some good Thai food, and then I heard that Knighton ran the 19.49s. I said skip dinner plans, we're going home, I got to recover for the next meet."
His willingness to forgo leisure activities and immediately shift his focus to recovery and training after being challenged by a competitor's performance highlights Lyles' relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering commitment to being the best. At the end of that season, he ran 19.31 seconds, breaking the American record and becoming the third all-time best 200m performer, only behind Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, the anticipation builds around whether Noah Lyles can cement his legacy by becoming the first athlete since Usain Bolt to win both the 100m and 200m at the same Olympic Games. With his unparalleled determination, impressive performances, and a burning desire to etch his name in the annals of sprinting history, Lyles is undoubtedly a contender to watch out for in Paris.
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