Six-time World champion Noah Lyles had recently assured supporters that he would surpass the world record in the 200 meters. With an air of ambition, the 26-year-old had declared that he would outperform his competitor, Kenny Bednarek, at the NYC Grand Prix. However, Lyles’s recent attempt to fulfill his promise did not go as planned, prompting mockery from his rivals.

Kenny Bednarek’s outstanding performance at the Doha Diamond League had stoked Lyles’s competitive fire. Bednarek established a personal best and a world lead in the 200-meter dash with a time of 19.67 seconds. Afterward, Lyles made a daring assertion on X, writing: “Shout out to @kenny_bednarek for that 19.6 world lead that was impressive! I will let you keep it till June 9th.” But, things had a different turn.

However, Lyles faced challenging circumstances at the NYC Grand Prix. Severe headwinds and issues with the starting blocks hindered the event. Despite these difficulties, Lyles finished the race with 19.77 seconds, falling short of his goal to surpass Bednarek’s lead in the global rankings. The response to Lyles’ performance on the X was quick and cutting. The X account “Track Spice” shared thoughts on Lyles and Bednarek along with the words, “Silent killer Kenny.” However, with a single emoji “👀,” Kenny Bednarek replied, displaying his competitive and wary demeanor.

Remember expectations were high for the 2022 World Athletics Championships after Team USA had a strong Olympic year? Before this spectacular race, Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek squared off at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships. Lyles won the exciting race with a split time of 19.67 seconds, placing Bednarek in fourth spot. Also, did you know? There was a time when Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek encountered where records since 1996 were broken.

At the Eugene World Athletics Championships, the battle continued. Both competitors qualified for the finals and shared the same semi-final grid. The race at the end was simply amazing. Michael Johnson’s long-standing American record was destroyed by Lyles with an incredible 19.31-second performance. Even though came in second, Bednarek’s time of 19.77 seconds was much slower than Lyles’s. However, breaking such notable marks fans’ hope, and expectations for Noah Lyles rooted. Viewers are thrilled to see such athletes at the 2024 Pairs Olympics.

Noah Lyles’s record-breaking statements before the 2024 Paris Olympics

With just 45 days remaining in the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles is setting focus on an even bigger challenge: breaking the iconic records held by Usain Bolt. Declaring in the open that he intends to smash Bolt’s world records in the 100 and 200 meters, Lyles said, “I know that I’m going to break it.” Moreover, the 26-year-old believes, “World records are meant to be broken.” Topping up with confidence and enjoying the route ahead lyles stated, “It’s just another goal to check off the list, and it’s always fun to go after the top.”

As an 8x Olympic gold medallist, Usain Bolt leaves a famous legacy. How could he keep up his unparalleled speed? As the only sprinter to win gold in the 100 and 200 meters at three different Olympic Games—Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016—he remains unique in Olympic history record books.

However, Lyles wants to accomplish something that not even Bolt has managed to do. At the upcoming Olympics, he hopes to do a quadruple. “I can grab three, but Bolt has done that.” Lyles remarked, “I can do two Olympics in a row, but Bolt has done that too,” considering his ambitious goals. This assurance paves the way for a promising future. As Lyles gets ready for the Paris Olympics and the U.S. Olympic Trials, his skill and perseverance will be put to the test. The road he embarks on to beat Bolt’s records and earn an honorable place in history sounds exciting.