Noah Lyles aims to overcome his Tokyo demons when he competes on the Olympic track in Paris, continuing his quest to fill the void left by Usain Bolt. Lyles took a significant step towards that goal by winning treble gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at last year’s world championships in Budapest.
This achievement led to World Athletics president Sebastian Coe referring to Lyles, whose recent contract renewal with Adidas was described as the most significant since Bolt’s with Puma, as an “absolute rock star.”
More than just a rock star, the 27-year-old American’s efforts in Hungary were featured in Netflix’s docuseries titled “Sprint,” which highlighted his confidence and readiness to bring track back into the public spotlight. His bold personality was evident in a series of memorable soundbites throughout the series.
“You have to have the mindset of a god,” Lyles said of being a top sprinter in “Sprint”.
“I’m a true believer in that the moment isn’t bigger than me, the moment was made for me.”
While many pundits insist that such an outlook is hardly rare for elite athletes, there is no doubt his brazen approach rubs many other people up the wrong way, not least legions of NBA basketball players – and their fans – after Lyles had questioned their claim to be real “world champions”.
Either way, the cameras will again be on Lyles in Paris as he seeks to improve on his Tokyo Games showing, where he came away with a bronze in the 200m.
“That bronze still burns a hole in my chest,” Lyles said last weekend after winning the 100m in a personal best of 9.81 seconds into a slight headwind at the London Diamond League.
“I will be carrying it around during Paris just to remind me that this is not the colour we are coming back with.”
His victory in London, however, left Lyles in buoyant mood, and in no fear of Jamaican Kishane Thompson, the fastest man of the year after his 9.77sec in Kingston last month.
“I beat everyone that I touch,” he said. “I don’t see why the Jamaicans are any different. This is what I pray for, this is what I live for and I back myself up, don’t I?”
Lyles, who suffered from chronic asthma as a child, added: “I know exactly where I am ahead of Paris.
“The more eyes on me, the better I perform, or at least that’s what my therapist says. When the TV cameras are on me and people are there, I am not losing.”
The American is still hoping to complete an audacious bid for medals in four events in Paris, adding the 4x400m relay to his repertoire.
He ruffled feathers in the world indoors in Glasgow in March when, after claiming 60m silver behind teammate Christian Coleman, he was selected for the 4x400m relay squad that also won silver.
It was a call-up that left the US federation accused of favouritism.
“Let’s just say a lot of people in the US were very, very, very upset that I ran the 4×400 and to that I would say, ‘run faster, push me out!’,” Lyles said.
Bolt retired from the sport in 2017 having won 11 world and eight Olympic golds.
Lyles, whose Budapest sprint double was the first since Bolt’s at the Beijing worlds in 2015, said: “Usain Bolt has done it and him saying to me that he sees what I am doing and he respects it, it is amazing.
“I am the guy who wants to move past being track-famous. I want people to see me on the track, but in GQ and my docu-series, and realise I’m a cool guy too.
“Medals are the first step because then people pay attention to you.
“Then you can go into different directions: fashion, music. You can start collaborating with other people, artists and the world.”
Lyles needs to maintain his impressive form heading into the Paris Olympics—the ultimate global championship for American spectators—because to continue attracting attention, he must keep winning medals. This was the key strength and appeal of Usain Bolt: his ability to dominate and secure multiple gold medals at global events. The podiums in Paris await Lyles.
