Noah Lyles just visited his hometown after his Paris victory. However, he wasn’t alone. His Jamaican girlfriend was spotted in the front seat cheering for her boyfriend amid the recent controversy. Whispers found their ground immediately after Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield openly confessed their relationship back in August 2022. Their relationship had not only amazed fans but also raised eyebrows because of the fierce USA vs. Jamaica rivalry on the track. 

However, things went well for some time until the tension escalated during the Paris Olympics with a revelation from Noah Lyles. Addressing the same rivalry, Lyles commented, “Junelle being Jamaican and having trained in MVP, I have been getting the drama from the Jamaican camp for at least five years now.” But little did he know that one single sentence could push her beloved into a state of mess.

Did Junelle Bromfield find refuge in Lyles’ hometown amid fear of returning to Jamaica?

Such a comment from America’s most favored track athlete sparked an uproar in Jamaica. Jamaican track enthusiasts started to accuse Bromfield of cheating her nation. Junelle Bromfield was blamed by her nation for sharing sensitive information with Lyles concerning Jamaican athletes’ preparation before the Olympics. But amid all the controversy, Bromfield won a bronze for Jamaica in the relay. But despite being an Olympic medalist, Bromfield confessed to facing hostility from the very people she once represented. 

Yet, amidst all the turmoil, there’s a contrasting story unfolding before her eyes. It’s a tale of warmth and acceptance just miles away. After his triumphant return from Paris, Noah Lyles visited his hometown of Alexandria, Virginia. Stepping into his hometown, he was greeted with all the love and admiration. He shared an Instagram post where he wrote, “Thank you so much @alexandriavagov. I know this was last minute but it meant a lot that so many of you came out today!…” The US sprinter also paid tribute to his late coach, Rashawn Jackson. But Noah was not receiving all the love and admiration alone. Accompanying him was Lyles’ girlfriend Bromfield, who, despite her struggles, found solace in Lyles’ community. 

Junelle Bromfield went to the comment section of Lyles’ heartfelt post and mentioned, “Fun visiting your hometown ❤️you are loved🫂”. On one hand, Bromfield has not been feeling safe enough to return to her hometown, Jamaica. However, on the other hand, her experience in Alexandria unraveled a stark contrast. Going by the recent scenario, Bromfield has not been feeling ‘loved’ by her nation. The athlete has been branded a traitor by her very own people. 

Bromfield’s experience in the U.S. stands in stark contrast to the vitriol she has acknowledged facing from her homeland. She also posted a story on her Instagram where she can be spotted with Lyles spending time in Virginia. She wrote, “So happy I get to share these moments with you ❤️️🫂.”. Moreover, she has also been receiving love from Lyles’ mother, Kiesha Caine. Caine planted a mango tree in Bromfield’s name after she came to know about Junelle’s love formangos.  However, the fear within her heart regarding the hate she has been receiving from Jamaica still lingers in the backdrop.

Noah Lyles takes a strong stand against hateful comments against Junelle Bromfield

The tension regarding this issue reached a boiling point after Lyles claimed the 100m gold, defeating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. Moreover, Bromfield too struggled in the Olympics, finishing fifth in the relay and missing out in the 400m semifinals. And following these events, she faced a storm of online abuse. What started as trolling quickly spiraled into death threats, leaving Bromfield uncertain about her safety and questioning her future in Jamaica.

As Bromfield grapples with the harsh reality of her situation, support has poured in from fellow athletes like Gabby Thomas and Yohan Blake. But one person stood strong against all the backlashes she had been encountering. And that’s her boyfriend, Noah Lyles. While the fiery backlashes were thrown towards Junelle, Noah did not take long to defend his love. 

Lyles took to his X account and expressed immense disappointment and sorrow for how the matter turned out surrounding his comment. Moreover, he also added how proud he is to call Junelle Bromfield his girlfriend. “I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of my GF and give her the flowers she deserves now 💐. She has been through so much in her life that I could never imagine fighting through. Beyond that she is a survivor, 2x Olympian, Olympic medalists, Multi world championship medalist, and has been representing Jamaica on the world stage since she was 8 years old,”  read the words from Lyles.

Highlighting the fact that Bromfield has been representing her motherland since she was just 8, Lyles probably hinted at how that same athlete can never ‘cheat’ or ‘backstab’ her nation. Nevertheless, this controversy has overshadowed the athletic career of Bromfield at the moment. But track enthusiasts would want her story to take a new turn and to see her back on the tracks.