Who is America’s hope for the Paris Olympics? Well, it’s Noah Lyles, undoubtedly and unquestionably on the men’s team. Known for his speed and zany style, Lyles has captured attention as the flashiest sprinter of Gen-Z. His sights for now are set- breaking the legendary Usain Bolt’s records in both the 100m and 200m. As he says, “I want to be faster than Usain Bolt“. Beyond his prowess on the track, Lyles is celebrated for his bold and visionary approach to the sport. He describes himself as “very outspoken, very verbal with our emotions…”

However, Lyles’ journey from outspokenness to success has been a bumpy ride. Lyles didn’t always carry himself with such ease. He suffered from asthma for years, enduring ‘serious asthma attacks, often landing him in the hospital every third night because of coughing fits and frequent illness caused by his weakened immune system’ from about age three to seven. These physical challenges not only tore at his body but also afflicted his mind, keeping him away from the track in his early years.

Despite this, he overcame these health obstacles, eventually finding an effective medication that allowed him to breathe more freely. Yet, his path was not without emotional trials, as the stains of asthma lingered with him.

In middle school, Lyles faced bullying due to discolored teeth, a side effect he attributes to early medication for asthma. The classmates who teased him for his yellow teeth took a toll on his young spirit. ‘They were ruthless,’ he recalls. ‘An emotional beating, that’s the stuff that really breaks you down.’ Notwithstanding these challenges, fate dealt him another setback.

In second grade, Noah Lyles was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia, affecting his academic journey. He described the challenges he faced, particularly with standardized testing and spelling tests, as extremely difficult experiences. “You can spell the word in your head, but when you try to write it, it just doesn’t look right. It’s frustrating,” he shared. Throughout high school, the added effort required to keep up academically was immense. Despite these struggles, sports became his sanctuary, providing a space where he found solace from the academic pressures. As he puts it, “Sports was definitely my outlet of where I could go, where I felt I was great.”But was it enough to make his setbacks vanish into thin air? Probably not.

Can Noah Lyles leave his demons behind and take home four gold medals?

Noah Lyles faced disappointment in Tokyo, failing to qualify for the 100m final but securing a bronze in the 200m. Despite his previous triumphs at the World Championships in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, Lyles struggled with mental health challenges leading up to the Olympics, openly discussing his battle with depression.

Lyles has been candid about his mental health journey, revealing that he has been seeing therapists since childhood. Last summer, he shared on Twitter that he was taking antidepressants but later stopped a few months before this year’s Olympic trials, citing concerns about their impact on his energy levels for competition. “Mentally, getting on and off the antidepressants, it was really hard,” – he had quipped rather morosely.

Looking forward, Lyles aims to strike gold four times in Paris. His journey, marked by the ebbs and flows of mental health while pursuing athletics, has been nothing short of inspiring. Known as the “Fastest Man of 2023,” Lyles has his power. Now, the question arises: who do you bet on for Paris? Do you think he will bring home four gold medals?