Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson are back on the track, and the buzz around their rivalry is already building. Both sprinters have kicked off their 2025 seasons, but their recent performances have fans talking. Could Lyles stay ahead, or is Thompson ready to take things to the next level this year?

American remarkable athlete Noah Lyles, a six-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, has strengthened his place among track and field’s elite. Kishane Thompson, the Jamaican star, has proven his potential with a silver at Paris 2024. Despite a record of stellar performances, their most recent 60-meter outings tell a different story.

While Noah Lyles has built a legacy as one of the fastest men in the world, his 2025 debut at the RADD Invitational showed a slightly slow start. Clocking 6.62 seconds in the 60-meter heat, Lyles managed to win but fell short of his personal best of 6.43 seconds. In comparison, Kishane Thompson, who secured a gold at the JAAA National Championship, clocked 6.58 seconds at the Astana Indoor Meet. However, he has a best indoor time of 6.48 seconds, leaving fans wondering if both sprinters are holding back.

A recent tweet by a user on X highlighted the performance of athletes at the event. “Noah Lyles kicks off his 2025 campaign at the RADD Invitational in Florida, clocking a time of 6.62s to win his 60m heat! He beat his training partner, Udodi Onwuzurike, who also opened up to 6.70s. Caleb Dean was 4th in 6.75s and Jaylen Slade was 5th in 6.87s.” It’s a solid result, but for Lyles, this is not his personal best. The 6.62 seconds reflect a slower-than-usual start, especially when compared to his impressive 6.43-second best. In contrast, Thompson has shown a more consistent and better performance.

It’ll be exciting to see whether Lyles can bounce back from this slow start and get back his dominance, or if Thompson is ready to step up his game. But this is not the first time we have seen Lyles in a slump. The gold medalist went through a similar slump 4 years ago during the Tokyo Olympics. And back then, one man’s advice helped him.

Dr Ralph helped Noah Lyles get his mojo back

Despite clinching a bronze medal in the 200m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Noah Lyles couldn’t shake off the feeling of disappointment. He knew that the result didn’t reflect his true potential. Lyles was determined to make a change and get back to the top spot. In 2022, Lyles reached out to Dr. Ralph Mann. Dr. Mann is a biomechanical expert. Lyles was hoping to find a new way and get his confidence back.

When Lyles first met with Dr. Ralph Mann, his response was direct. “He came by, looked at it, and said, ‘That’s trash,’” Lyles said. “He’s very blunt, and I’m a blunt person, so I can take it. Still, it was like, ‘Okay. That hit differently,’” he added. This shows the depth of their relationship of respect and understanding. Lyles knew this would push him to overcome his weaknesses and effectively improve his performance.

But coming back to 2025, Noah is a more mature man now. And his Paris campaign has only added to that confidence. So we can expect this slump to end rather soon. Thompson isn’t one to let his rival get the better of him either. And with his recent world indoor win, the Jamaican is also hot on Noah’s heels. Will Lyles be able to regain his form, or will Thompson take the lead in 2025?

Only time will tell. But the fans of either speedster can be assured that their clash will be legendary.