From struggling to pick the right pair of running shoes to strutting in signature sneakers from Adidas—Noah Lyles has come a long way! Despite his success, he doesn’t shy away from discussing his challenging childhood, including his parents’ separation. Instead, he has channeled these experiences into a determined drive for success, a mindset that echoes Kanye West’s journey.

Kanye West, born in Atlanta, faced a similar situation at the age of three when his parents separated. But rather than letting this hardship define him, Kanye used it as fuel to rise to the heights of hip-hop stardom. This shared background has influenced Lyles’s musical preferences, making Kanye West his favorite artist.

In a conversation with “Mixed Feelings,” Noah Lyles said, “It is…Kanye West. I’m sorry!… I feel like I relate to a lot of Kanye’s life.” He went on to explain, “Going through struggle, trying to make it to the top, trying to do it your own way.” Like Kanye, who moved to Chicago and left Atlanta behind after his parents split, Lyles also experienced a similar upheaval. For Kanye, his mother became his source of comfort, a sentiment that resonates with Lyles’s fans.

Noah Lyles, a six-time world champion, inherited his talent for sprinting from his parents, both of whom were accomplished sprinters in college. However, as he and his brother Josephus pursued their athletic dreams, they found only their mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, as a steadfast supporter. She worked hard to support her sons’ aspirations after she and Noah’s father, Kevin decided to part ways.

At just 13, Noah might not have fully grasped the impact of his parent’s separation, but he felt its effects when they had to move to a new apartment and sleep on the floor. Eventually, like Kanye, Noah also had to leave his birthplace and relocate, this time to Virginia.

Meanwhile, Noah Lyles’s dream of becoming the best sprinter faced a setback when his mom couldn’t afford to buy him a pair of shoes from Walmart. However, things improved as Keisha’s earnings increased. Determined not to accept defeat, she stood strong in the face of adversity. The 27-year-old athlete still remembers those tough times and his mother’s role in overcoming them.

In a candid moment, Lyles shared, “My mom is a hard worker. I remember her saying constantly, ‘I don’t care what the job is; as long as I’m able to make money for my family, I’ll do the job. And I will do it to the best of my ability.’ ” Lyles adopted this same attitude, stating, “That’s kind of how I approach life.”

These parallels between his own life and Kanye West’s have made Lyles a fan of the 47-year-old rapper. Lyles said, “I definitely relate to Kanye and I’m still a very big fan of his old work.” But could the “sorry” in Lyles’s statement hint at Kanye’s past erratic behavior? It seems possible! After all, during his appearance on “Mixed Feelings,” Lyles didn’t shy away from discussing mental health, a topic that has also been part of Kanye’s narrative.

Noah Lyles’ take on mental health and Kanye West’s rollercoaster

Amid Kanye West’s golden years, reports started surfacing about the icon losing his cool in public. In 2022, he made headlines for using racial slurs against Trevor Noah, the renowned TV presenter. This led Instagram to suspend Kanye’s account for 24 hours, following their rules on bullying, hate speech, and harassment. Sara Haines, co-host of “The View,” weighed in on Kanye’s behavior, noting that ‘Ye has “impulsive issues” and might not be able to control himself, raising concerns about his on-screen conduct.

Kanye’s struggles with bipolar disorder have been well documented, and while it’s a lifelong challenge, it’s also part of his ongoing journey. Similarly, Noah Lyles has faced his own mental health battles. In 2019, he hit a rough patch, and during the pandemic, he grappled with homesickness, depression, and more.

Lyles’s mother recognized the chronic nature of his issues from a young age. Determined not to let these struggles define him, Lyles sought help from experts, driven by a clear mindset: “I’ve got to get better. I can’t let this control me.” On “Mixed Feelings,” he reflected on his pop culture icon facing similar struggles, saying, “Going through struggle, trying to make it to the top, trying to do it your own way. Not saying that he shouldn’t be reprimanded — he needs to be, he definitely needs some help. But I definitely relate to Kanye and I’m still a very big fan of his old work.” Reflecting on these words and Noah Lyles drawing inspiration from similar struggles, what are your thoughts on this interview? Share your views in the comments below!