Noah Lyles has already become synonymous with sprinting greatness, with three Olympic medals and six World Championship wins to his name! After the historic 9.79-second finish in the 100m at the Paris Olympics 2024, Noah Lyles had the world at his feet. Or so it seemed! He won the gold by beating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second. It was hands-down one of the greatest races in history. 

But the road ahead had challenges waiting for Lyles. As he prepared for the coveted 200m, he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Lyles, despite battling asthma all his life, decided he was going to run regardless. On the tracks, there was a whole new, shocking story set to unfold. When the dust settled, Letsile Tebogo, the 21-year-old sensation from Botswana, won the gold, clocking 19.46 seconds. Beloved American sprinter Kenneth Bednarek claimed silver with a time of 19.62 seconds. And in bronze, Lyles was clocking 19.70!

But the race that initially sealed his name as the third-fastest man in history was the one where he clocked a time of 19.31 seconds at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, held in Eugene, Oregon. Unfortunately, the odds were stacked against him. As the race unfolded, it was clear that Lyles wasn’t himself. But the athletics world believes he might not have won even if he was in his prime health.

In a recent interview, retired American sprinter and Olympian Justin Gatlin had some interesting things to say about Lyles’ performance. “I actually enjoyed watching the men’s 200 meters for different reasons. The Olympics always throws something unexpected your way. Everyone thought Noah’s biggest challenge was the 100 meters, but he pulled through and won the gold. Then we assumed the 200 was a done deal—it’s his baby, after all. But as the rounds went on, he just didn’t look like himself.”

But that’s not all. Gatlin went on to say, “Even though people talked about how he came out jumping and acting wild like he usually does, the look on his face told me, ‘You are taxed. You are tired. You just had enough to show up and be the showman that we know you are.’” Gaitin went on to draw attention to the bronze being an emotional and mental exhaustion that comes with pushing your body to the limit. And not just COVID-19.

Noah Lyles in the limelight, even beyond the track!

Despite the challenges on track, Noah Lyles has stayed in the limelight long after his Olympic wins. Interestingly, not just for his athletic marvels! Recently, he spoke in depth about his mental health. Shedding light on the pressures that come with being on top. His honesty sparked conversations around sports and mental health. This topic is often overshadowed by the pursuit of medals. But his honesty also showed the world that, regardless of all struggles, one can still make it.

But that is not the only struggle hitting Lyles! Lyles has been in the middle of the internet backlash alongside his girlfriend and Olympian Junelle Bromfield. A recent X post received a lot of criticism from fans, criticizing the two for airing their ‘pillow talk’ sessions. While some appreciated the candidness, others have been rather quick to criticize the two. But in true Lyles style, he remains unbothered and continues to share his journey, on and off track. In a world where athletes often put out superhuman personas, Lyles has come out to show the world that vulnerability is in fact strength.

Lyles reputation and story are, of course, incomplete without the mention of his iconic wins! Paris was not Lyles’ first Olympic win. Lyles is a patron of the podium; he was last on it during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He won bronze in the 200m, clocking 19.74 seconds. Lyles also has a history of dominating the World Championships. In the 2023 World Athletics Championships, he won gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Lyles also has an impressive stack of golds from the Diamond League. Here, he won gold in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. The list of laurels goes on and on and on. As Lyles continues to stack up gold, the world is patiently awaiting his next adventure.