The people you grow up around have an enormous impact on your life, and Noah Lyles is the living embodiment of that. From a childhood defined by poverty to becoming a track star with a $5 million valuation, the journey of this Florida native has been nothing short of mythical. However, in his quest to become one of the greatest sprinters of all time, the 27-year-old had some seminal figures who provided him with all the motivation Noah needed.

Just days ago, fans were shocked to learn how Noah’s mother Keisha Caine struggled to buy shoes worth $11 from Walmart for her children due to financial troubles. However, now, hauling two medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, her son has sealed his status as “The Fastest Man” in the world. But a helping hand was never hard to find along the way.

Noah Lyles had people to show him the way

Appearing for an interview for The Kelly Clarkson Show after his seminal performance at the French capital, Noah talked about how the dream of becoming an elite runner was embedded in his mind from an early age. Lauding his efforts to win gold in the men’s 100m race at the 33rd Olympics, the host was curious to know if Noah felt powerful about his feat. However, as the sprinter said, it isn’t something that feels unique to him so much. “For me, it’s kind of an everyday scenario. I grew up with the idea that I was the fastest man in the world or I was going to achieve it eventually,” said Noah with a smile.

He went on to reveal how his ambitions were fueled by seeing stars like Jearl Miles, Hazel Clark, and Joetta Clark Diggs, all of whom were Olympians in their own right. Noting how things can get tense having so many examples in front could make things difficult for a child, Kelly wanted to know if Lyles felt pressurized about having to replicate their success. “I just thought it was normal,” grinned Noah in response.

He went on to note that being a track athlete was the only logical option for him, considering both his parents, Kevin and Keisha, were also track runners at Seton Hall University. “I just thought you know running’s in your blood,” said the athlete earnestly. Maybe it’s this kind of environment that nurtures talent is what that helped Noah to reach out and grab greatness by the scruff in the City of Love.

Running high to show his worth

The men’s 100m race was one of the most anticipated events at the Paris Olympics. With Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson posing the biggest hurdle to Noah’s dreams of becoming an Olympic gold medalist, fans everywhere were eager to see if the American had any special tricks up his sleeve. Sure enough, Lyles ran a sensational 9.79 seconds to win the race by a photo finish, making it clear that his ambition of becoming one of the greatest sprinters of all time wasn’t something Noah took lightly. However, his dream of bagging the coveted Sprint Double remained unattained despite his best efforts.

Lyles ran the men’s 200m sprint while battling COVID-19 and still managed to win bronze, crossing the finish line in 19.70 seconds. While there are rampant speculations about how different the outcome could have been under normal circumstances, Lyles’ determination has been widely commended around the globe. Now that the star is back home, it remains to be seen whether he will continue to pursue his goals with the same fervor or decide to take some time off in the coming days.