“He was the fastest man ever to do it, and soon, it’ll be me.” Noah Lyles has never shied away from letting the track and field community in on his ultimate goal. He has his sights set on Usain Bolt’s 100m and 200m world records and at the U.S Track and Field Olympic he made a record-shattering run. This has fans wondering if Noah Lyles will be able to get close to, or even break, Bolt’s 200m record as he intends to.

Lyles blazed through the track, clocking in at 19.53 seconds in the 200m finals. Apart from setting the fastest time in the event this year, he broke Michael Johnson’s 19.66 record that had remained untouched for 28 years. This performance will give him the belief that Bolt’s 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m are well within his reach.

Will Noah Lyles’ obsession with Usain Bolt’s record payoff in Paris?

With a personal best of 19.31 seconds in the 200m, Lyles is currently #3 on the all-time list. But there is growing belief that he could move up and possibly dethrone Bolt. At Hayward Field, Lyles clinched the top spot in the 200m finals, inching closer to his PR with a time of 19.53 seconds, and qualified for the Paris Olympics. He will compete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at this year’s Summer Games.

This will be the six-time World Champion’s second Olympic run. In 2020, Lyles could only muster an Olympic bronze. Despite making it to the podium, he wants and expects more of himself. Apart from targeting a gold medal, one thing that will be on his mind is breaking one of Bolt’s world records.

Last year in August, Lyles said,  “I know that I’m going to break it,” but he has continued to fall short. Then in March, he said he would soon be the fastest man, surpassing the legendary Jamaican. After his Trials triumph, Lyles once again reminded everyone of what he was thinking.

“Grabbing a world record is one of two things that I still have left to do: one being grabbing an Olympic gold, and then, two, grabbing a world record. It’s on the list.” Lyles has talked before, but can he finally put his money where his mouth is come Paris?

Post the race, one fan voiced their concerns on Reddit, “Since Lyles just basically jogged most of his 19.60, which isnt far off his own PR (19.31) and the WR itself, do you guys think he poses a real chance at cracking 19.19 in Paris? Earlier in the season everyone was saying no way not a chance but now looking at this im not so sure. Could he even break into 18 second territory?” This might not be too far off from his own PR, but many are skeptical of whether he has the drive to dethrone the GOAT in the French capital.

While he is looking to redeem himself, bring home an Olympic gold, and break Bolt’s records, his performance at Hayward Field generated mixed reactions.

“He’ll be close,” Fans divided over Noah Lyles possibly crushing Bolt’s world record

The Reddit post has sparked an unruly debate over Noah Lyles’ performance at the Olympic trials. Many headed over to the thread to voice their concerns. One fan plainly stated, “I think he can get back to 19.3 territory, I don’t think the world record is in danger. Noah simply does not have the weapons that prime Usain Bolt had. If he can drop a 9.7 low in the 100m I may reconsider.” 

It was in 2009 that Bolt set the world record in 200m  at the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin. While his recent 19.53 at the Trials suggests he could be up for it, in his only 200m race before this, he registered a time of 19.77 at the USATF Grand Prix, a far cry from the 19.19 world record. Even though he won the race, the time won’t convince many of his chances to break the world record.

Another fan expressed, “If he will, he’ll do it in the finals. With the whole world watching, he loves the attention. I’m a believer.” Lyles has previously stated that he thrives on the response he receives from fans in the stands. While he didn’t get to relish the attention back in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris could change that.

One fan confessed, “I don’t think he’s hitting 19.19 but he’ll be close.” Seeing how his PB of 19.31 seconds isn’t that far off from Bolt’s record, Lyles has the capability of pulling off something incredible in Paris. If he manages to beat his PB, it will mean he will be a lot closer to the world record than ever before.

A fan mentioned, “Most breakable record out of all the sprint records. Yohan Blake essentially beat it but started late.” While the 100m record may yet stand, there is a strong chance of Lyles getting the 200m record for himself. Even Bolt admitted in 2023 that his 100m record will last longer than the 200m one. “I really don’t know, I think the 100m’s going to be harder (to break) because it’s quicker, and if you make a mistake during the race you’re not going to get it… It’s a lot more technical so I think maybe the 100m’s going to go last,” the Jamaican said.

Another fan strongly disagreed, “I don’t think so… Bolt had that insane speed endurance he built from all those years running the 400m plus the stride length from his height.” Bolt towers over Lyles at 6 feet 5 inches. While Lyles might not have his height, he has been putting in the work over the years to inch closer to his world record. 

As Lyles prepares to redeem himself from the disappointment at the 2020 Olympic Games, the track and field community will be watching him closely. Will Noah Lyles pull off this incredible feat and set two new world records in the French capital? We will soon find out in 25 days. Stay tuned!