‘Greatness is never achieved alone!’ Every champion has someone behind them, pushing, guiding, and refining their path to success, and so does Noah Lyles. But what happens when that guiding force is suddenly gone? That’s what exactly happened with Noah, and he is grieving. The man who helped shape his career, the mentor who fine-tuned almost all his moves, is no longer here.

Dr. Ralph Mann, one of the most celebrated coaches and biomechanics experts, passed away on January 2nd, 2025, after fighting a fierce battle against pancreatic cancer. For an athlete aiming for the sky, the way isn’t just about talent. It’s about constant improvement, breaking down weaknesses, and rebuilding them into strengths. For years, Noah Lyles had Ralph, who did just that. He was someone who saw potential in Noah very early in his career, shaped him into a champion, and set the standard for what it would take to win. But what did Ralph do differently that Noah can’t forget about?

The Mentor Who Transformed Noah Lyles’ Career

During the NB Indoor GP Press Conference uploaded on ’FloTrack’ on their YouTube channel on February 1st, when Noah was asked about his mentor, he recalled, “I would have been working with Ralph since 2016 um my coach Lance introduced me to him.”  This introduction turned out to be the turning point of his career. The man Noah Lyles met that day was Dr. Ralph Mann, a sprinting genius, a biomechanics expert, and a former University of Kentucky professor. But more than that, he was the man who saw both the flaws and the potential in a young athlete and knew how to bring out the best in him.

“…..the first time I met him and he’s, you know, saw my biomechanics, when I ran at my first Olympics trial” Noah Lyles recalled. “He was like, yeah um you got some good stuff. You’re a little talented, but uh, you got all these faults.” It was a harsh but honest assessment, one of the elements that defines their relationship. Ralph didn’t sugarcoat things, and it seems that he laid out exactly what needed to be addressed. And to this, the 6x World Champion made a promise: “I’m going to make sure that, you know, next time you see me, I’m going to have nothing but great things.“

True to his words, Noah Lyles worked hard to understand the mechanics of sprinting at an elite level and ensured that every aspect of his race was optimized for success. Each year, it seems the improvements have become clearer. “Every year he would come back and he’d be more and more impressed,” Lyles said with a smile.

Ralph stood by Noah as an analyst and a critic with an aim to fine-tune his every move. It’s clearly visible from what the one-time Olympic champion added next, “I remember right before I went to the Olympic Games, he came and saw me and we did our testing and he said this much is how much it’s going to take to win and be second.” It was a precise calculation, a detailed assessment of what was required to stand atop the podium. Isn’t it astonishing?

As Noah Lyles reflects on the man who played such a crucial role in his rise, one question lingers: Was this the only mentor and mentee duo that did exceptionally well? And this question has been somewhat answered by two of the iconic coach-player duos. One of them is Cecile Landi and Simone Biles, and the other one is Usain Bolt and Glen Mills.

Mentors who architect legends Simone Biles and Usain Bolt

Cecile Landi played a crucial role in helping Simone Biles recover from the ‘twisties,’ a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose their sense of body awareness while they are in the air. She experienced this during the Tokyo Olympics. Her support and guidance were instrumental in Biles’ journey back to competition, proving that their bond goes far beyond just the sport. The 7x Olympics gold medalist went on to share her feelings about Cecile and Laurent Landi on several occasions. “They’ve been big mentors in like my adulthood (because) they got to see and harness the more mature Simone. They’ve helped me a lot not just in the gym but out of the gym, too,” as reported by ‘The Week’ in July 2024. Cecile’s ability to offer emotional and psychological support during one of the most challenging times in Biles’ career must have solidified her importance in Simone’s life as not just a coach, but a mentor and a friend.

Just like Biles, Usain Bolt’s career transformed, with the support of Glen Mills. He turned Bolt into the fastest man on Earth. After the 2004 Athens Olympics, where Bolt struggled with injuries and underwhelming performances, Mills took the young sprinter under his guidance. Under Mills, Bolt learned to embrace failure and use it as motivation. With his coach’s guidance, Bolt went on to win eight Olympic gold medals and become a global icon. Even after retiring, he continues to credit Mills for shaping his journey. On 9th January, he posted on a social media platform saying, “He taught me the importance of learning from losing before I could get to the top. Infinite respect to Coach Mills for everything you taught me.” He even called him a “Living legend”.

Whether it is the story of Noah Lyles, Simone Biles, or Usain Bolt, an undeniable truth is that coaches are more than just trainers. Without them, the sports world might have never witnessed the brilliance of these legends. Do comment below if you know more about such iconic duos!