Rules and records both are meant to be broken. Or is it just the latter? With the Paris Olympics approaching, few stories are capturing our minds and hearts. Amid the relentless pursuit of legendary records, Noah Lyles emerged as the central figure. As he prepares for the NYC Grand Prix slated for June 9th, Lyles is not merely focused on defending on his 200-meter standalone title. He is on a mission to shatter a feat that has remained unchallenged since he was just a wee lad. Lyles is gearing up to break Usain Bolt‘s iconic world record. Bolt is such a phenom in the 200 m that he had once quipped –“I have dedicated my life to the 200m, I really love the 200m a lot”. It now remains to be seen how dedicated Lyles is going to be.

With three consecutive world titles in the 200 meters, Lyles has already cemented his status as one of the premier sprinters of this generation. Yet, for Lyles, the taste of success is still waiting to get even sweeter. The world eagerly anticipates the 2024 Paris Olympics. And with that, Lyles’ quest takes on even greater significance. He’s not just aiming to dethrone Bolt’s record. But running even further he is trying to push the boundaries of what is possible in sprinting. Dream big is the norm and Lyles exemplifies it to the T it seems like.

Noah Lyles’ sheen won’t be dented this Paris Olympics

More than just titles and medals, Lyles is driven by the audacious goal of breaking through the barriers set by his predecessors. To Noah Lyles, breaking the world record is not a mere aim. He has been declaring it as if it’s a prediction from the oracle. “I know that I’m going to break it”, declared Lyles. The current 200 m world record stands at 19.19 seconds as timed by Bolt back in the 2009 World Championships. In 2022, clocking a time of 19.31 in Eugene, Oregon, he has already toppled the timing of sprinting legend Michael Johnson. To Lyles, it’s just a matter of time, it seems as he said, “World records are meant to be broken.” In a conversation with NBC, Lyles further continued, “It’s just another goal to check off the list and it’s always fun to go after the top.”

“It’s time to get uncomfortable”, is what Lyles claims, meaning that he is most surely stepping out of his comfort zone. In the upcoming summer Olympics, Noah Lyles has shared that he wants to aim for a quadruple. The current 100 and 200-meter US track phenom is also set to try his foot in the 4×400 meter relay at the 2024 Olympics. And he is not only aiming to try but is aiming to grab four consecutive golds. After Lyles Budapest’s victory in 2023, he became the first man after Bolt to achieve the sprint treble at a World Championships. But his dreams are not all out of the blue. Besides, Lyles timed 6.44 seconds in the 60-meter dash in Boston at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting this February. 

Now as it appears, transcending all his competitors, Noah Lyles has considered the Jamaican legend to be his competition. It is not just the medals that he is craving for but his main aim is to achieve a feat that hasn’t been achieved yet. Lyles shared in an interview, “…I can grab three but Bolt has done that. I can do two Olympics in a row, but Bolt has done that too.” Now it’s only achieving a quadruple in the 2024 Olympics that might help Lyles to do what even Bolt hasn’t. 

Will Noah Lyles redefine sprinting history at the 2024 Olympics and outshine Usain Bolt’s legacy?

Adding a cherry to Lyles’s dreams, Bolt too had admitted that the possibility looms for Lyles to shatter the world record. In a conversation with Citius Mag, Bolt said, “I must say. It’s not going to be easy. I feel like Noah feels like it’s easy running both events. It was never easy…I think the possibility is there because he came close at the (19.31 seconds in 2022) World Championships. I think if he corrects a few things, I won’t say, he could get better. The possibility is there”.

After Lyle’s performance at Budapest last year, Lyles is entering the 2024 Summer Olympics, being the fastest in the list, save for his most formidable competitor Fred Kerley. Besides 100 m, 200 m, and 4×100 meter relay, Lyles is also hoping to participate in the 4×400 meter relay and grab a gold. With a personal best of 19.31 seconds on 200 meters and 9.83 seconds in the 100-meter, Lyles is trying to beat the best under the guidance of his coach, Lance Brauman.

As Lyles aims for a quadruple besides creating a record and doing what even Bolt hasn’t done, all eyes are set on him. Oozing confidence, Lyles said, “I still got Olympic gold medals to get. I still got records to break. Why shoot for the clouds when you can aim for the stars.” With every race, it is made clear by Lyles that he is not content with past glories but is determined to carve out a new legacy. As the clock ticks down to Paris and beyond, Lyles is gearing up to write the next chapter of his sprinting saga. Is the world ready to witness a new history with bated breath?