Noah Lyles‘ audacious pursuit of a “sprint quadruple” at the Paris Olympics was met with a wave of skepticism, with critics quick to dismiss his ambitious goal as a pipe dream. Yet, in the midst of the backlash, an unexpected ally emerged—Vernon Norwood. With a promise to Quincy Wilson that “I’m going to get you a gold medal,” Norwood once again proved his mettle on the Olympic stage. His stellar performance in the 4x400m relay was nothing short of remarkable, clocking a blistering split of 43.30 seconds in the final and a consistent 43.54-second split in the heats.

Norwood’s contributions were instrumental in the American team not only securing gold but also setting a new Olympic record of 2:54.43. His steady brilliance underscored the importance of teamwork and perseverance, even in the face of widespread doubt. After the Olympics, Norwood publicly backed Lyles’ bold claim of breaking the 400m world record, emphasizing that Lyles’ ambition is not only commendable but entirely within reach with the right focus and training.

Vernon Norwood backs Noah Lyles’ 400-meter world record bid

In a recent CITIUSMAG podcast on Spotify, 2-time Olympic medalist Vernon Norwood voiced his support for Noah Lyles’ bold 400-meter ambitions. “At the end of the day, you’re not training to be mediocre. You’re training to be great,” Norwood said, addressing Lyles’ goal to dominate the 400m events. He continued, “So him saying that, I don’t expect anything less.” Norwood praised Lyles’ drive, adding, “That’s what we’re all training to do. Break the world record, be great, win, and then dominate. He’s just speaking greatness into himself.” Despite Lyles’s criticism for his lofty goals, Norwood sees it as a sign of confidence rather than a problem.

Norwood explained, “It’s like him saying, ‘I’m just training to run 10.0 or 10.1.’ No, you’re training to be great because you know you have to be great.” In simpler terms, Norwood believes that striving for excellence is crucial. If Lyles doesn’t aim high, he won’t achieve the performance he can. If we look at Noah Lyles’ performance at the Paris Olympics, it is clear that he is at the top of his games. One of Noah’s best performances in his career is the photo finish 100m win in just 9.784, beating Jamaican Kishane Thompson five-thousandths of a second. 

Even after COVID diagnosis, he got bronze in the 200m event. “But to be honest, I’m more proud of myself than anything,” he said in a post-race interview. “Coming out and getting the bronze medal with Covid.” he added with pride. But, even after giving stunning performances at the Olympics, his claim of taking a spot at 400m drew criticism. However, it all started with his participation in the 4x400m relay at the 2024 World Indoor Championships. 

Reflecting on all the online backlashes he received, Noah said, “Let’s just say a lot of people in the U.S. were very, very, very upset that I ran the 4×400. And to that, I say: Run faster. Push me out.” Not only the fans but also the American Sprinter Fred Kerley was one of the individuals who criticized USATF for including Noah in the 4x400m relay team. Michael Johnson, a track and field veteran, once faced it. After Noah’s claim, he shared his personal experiences on X, indirectly backing Noah Lyles.

Michael Johnson supported Noah Lyles, recalling his criticism as a 400m legend

It is not only Noah who faced much criticism for performing at the 4x400m events or making a claim. Earlier, Michael Johnson also went through the same phase. On X, he talked about his experience at the 400-meter race at the US Championships in June 1993. Recalling that, he wrote, “the story that made this race special.” continuing what happened back then. Michael Johnson was up against Quincy Watts and Butch Reynolds. He highlighted that he had been ranked number one in both years in both 200m and 400m events.

Michael had beaten all his competitors except Watts. But, still, there were doubts about his ability to win a 400m championship because some believed he “wasn’t a true 400 sprinter.” This race was significant for two reasons: It marked the first time he had run 400-meter rounds before a final, something that has not happened until now. However, Michael Johnson was confident heading into the race because he had kept the same training routine since college. He was accustomed to running more than one event on the same day, so managing the 400m rounds did not present any problem. At the beginning of the race, Harry Butch Reynolds and Quincy Watts took an early lead over the first 200 meters.

Nevertheless, Johnson kept his mind in the race and again found that for the third 100 meters. He crossed the line in 43.74 seconds, a personal best and this season’s world leader, proving he was correct on all counts. After that, that same year, he even got the world title of 400m and 400m relay, which resembles Noah Lyles’s 2024 Sprinting journey. So, we hope that, like Michael Johnson, Noah Lyles will surpass all criticism and continue making history, especially with the support of actual sportspersons like Vernon Norwood. As we look at the criticism faced by both Lyles and Johnson, a familiar pattern will unfold—a shared critique and the chance to defy the doubters. Will Lyles follow in Johnson’s footsteps and make history in the 400m? Comment below!