Noah Lyles once told NBC, “I want to be the best I can be, and I want to be the best you’ve ever seen.” Today, Lyles shines as a track and field star with Olympic gold and bronze, World Championship titles, and Diamond League trophies. He made history as the first sprinter to achieve the sprint treble at the World Championships since Usain Bolt in 2015. With personal bests of 9.79 seconds in the 100m and 19.13 seconds in the 200m, he set his sights on breaking Bolt’s record. Reflecting on his ambitions, he confidently stated in an interview with Olympics.com, “Well, in my head, I think I’m going to break it. I’m planning to break it.” 

Despite facing personal challenges, including health concerns and his parent’s divorce, Lyles never let these struggles show on the track. His journey to becoming a track and field star was shaped by his talent and the unique support he received from his divorced parents. Their encouragement helped him build a special connection with the sport during high school, setting the stage for his impressive career.

How Noah Lyles’ family support crafted his athletic edge

Nick Carboni, WCNC Sports Director, recently shared an interview with Noah Lyles’ father on X. The post read, “This is where he got his start in Track & Field…Noah Lyles made his mark in Charlotte, North Carolina. The world’s fastest man spent parts of his childhood right here. His first official track meet? It was at Johnson C. Smith. Caught up with Noah’s dad, Kevin, there. @wcnc.” In the interview, Kevin Lyles spoke emotionally about his son’s journey, reflecting on their early life in Charlotte and its significant role in shaping Noah’s career. He shared that Noah’s parents, Kevin Lyles and Keisha Caine Bishop, were track and field stars during their college years, a lesser-known fact that adds depth to Noah’s athletic legacy. 

A native of Alexandria, Va., along with his siblings Abby and Josephus (who would also be an accomplished sprinter), Noah grew up in an environment where the entire family deeply loved the sport. That can drive Noah to bag gold in 100m in the Paris Olympics in 2024 and then put forth a valiant effort to snatch the bronze medal in 200m. His parents, Keisha and Kevin, met at Seton Hall University in the 1990s and married later. In 2008, they finalized their divorce, and that is when Noah shifted Charlotte to Alexandria when he was 8 years old, as the custody went to his mother. 

However, even though they got divorced, Kevin maintains a good relationship with his children and always attends their competitions. In that same interview with WCNC, he expressed how proud he is to be his father, as he said, “As soon as people recognize me or see me, and I say yeah I’m Noah Lyles’ dad, yes, I see it,” concluding it with a smile saying, “that’s a good thing.” When the reporter asked his father what he thought about Noah becoming the fastest man in the Olympics, Kevin responded very nicely as he seemed happy with the fact that Noah never lost his speed till the end of the finish line in 100m with the competition of Jamaican Kishane Thompson. 

The record-breaking win was when he touched the line in 9.79 seconds (.784), keeping Kishane behind, whose time was 9.79 seconds (.789). This photo-finish win has helped him etch his name in the history of the Olympics. Reflecting on his win at the finals, when the reporter asked how the experience was, he got excited and said, “I knew and I am sitting in the stands and I didn’t have a good angle but when I saw him dip and I knew he’d won. In my heart, I knew he’d won”, showcasing his confidence in his child’s ability. It was an emotional moment because he had struggled a lot from childhood to be in this position. Even after his parents divorced, Noah and his mother stapled the tracks in the queen’s city. So, he first made his significant mark on the track in Charlotte at Johnson C. Smith.

Noah got support from her mother in every thick-and-thin situation. She was the biggest cheerleader from his college days. He even shared with NBC how his mother shaped him as an athlete and made him what he is today. Addressing her mother, ‘a hard-worker’, he expressed how she was his inspiration as she always told him to do the best according to his ability, which Noah has followed till now. Noah has been displaying his creative side from the very beginning, even though his parents gave him and his brother complete freedom to try out different sports. Josephus once told NBC, “Our parents wanted us to try a lot of sports and have fun.” But ultimately, they found their way to their own roots and became the dominators of track and field. 

Overcoming early struggles to achieve Olympic gold: The inspiring story of Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles’ journey to Olympic success is a testament to resilience and determination. Despite facing significant personal and financial challenges during his teenage years, including health issues and family struggles, Lyles has emerged as a formidable sprinter. His ability to overcome these obstacles and achieve greatness on the track is truly inspiring. His story highlights the sacrifices and perseverance required to reach the highest levels of competition.

Reflecting on their journey, Keisha said, “Today, we want people to know it is hard, but you can do it.” Even at the age of 8, Noah Lyles faced frequent and severe asthma attacks that left him ill on a daily basis. Due to these health issues, he was initially restricted from participating in sports. However, his mother, Keisha, remained steadfast in her support for her son. Over time, Lyles’ condition improved significantly. Although he once feared each attack might be his last, consistent nebulizer treatments and the care of medical professionals enabled him to manage his asthma and regain control over his health.

Furthermore, Lyles’ ailment did not stop there. As a child, he also had ADD and dyslexia, which threw him more challenges to his career in sports. On that note, Noah once mentioned to CNN, “Asthma definitely affects kind of everything I do in terms of health, physical fitness, sometimes even emotional because if you’re emotionally fatigued, that can bring your immune system down.” Apart from the physical pain, he suffered from depression as well, but then, he overcame all the challenges by telling himself that he needs to get better and that he should not let these challenges cripple his mind and body.