The Olympic year is all about leveling up, and for American record holder Noah Lyles, the 26-year-old is aiming to go from a “3 Peat” to a ‘4 Peat’. Besides wanting to snag all the gold medals at the Paris Olympics, Lyles is also gunning for the title of “the world’s fastest man” by breaking Usain Bolt’s jaw-dropping records of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m. Earlier this year, in a truly heartwarming and cheeky moment, Usain Bolt symbolically passed the baton to Lyles.

In an interview with CITIUS MAG, the Jamaican track legend shared his thoughts on Lyles’ ambitions. Bolt hinted sneakily, stating, “I think if he corrects a few things – I won’t say – he could get better. The possibility is there… I won’t tell you how to break the world record.” And now, inching closer to the mark, Noah Lyles has revealed his strategy to mark his name in the record books.

How does Noah Lyles aim to claim Usain Bolt’s 100 and 200-meter world records?

In an exclusive interview with Dazed, Noah Lyles peeled back the layers of his life, sharing fascinating insights from last year’s NBA feud to his dream of becoming “a manga artist,” and even touching on mental health. However, what truly stood out was Lyles addressing the constant comparisons to Usain Bolt. While flattering, these comparisons can limit Lyles to “the next Usain Bolt” rather than celebrating his unique talents and achievements.

Though Lyles wishes to take the title of “fastest man alive” from Lightning Bolt, he is determined to be recognized for his accomplishments, not just as someone following in Bolt’s footsteps. Noah shared with Dazed how he believed he had already started to achieve these goals. Sharing his strategic plan of attack, with which he hopes to break the 100m and 200m world records set by Bolt, the ‘3 Peat’ star then said, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

This spoke about how Noah Lyles approaches big, challenging goals by breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps, emphasizing patience and perseverance in achieving great things. Reflecting on these words, let us see how the 26-year-old has come remarkably close to breaking Bolt’s records. And the question now is, which record will Lyles break first—the 100m or the 200m?

How close is Lyles to claiming the ‘fastest man’s’ title?

At the Atlanta City Games, Noah Lyles gave it his all to topple Usain Bolt’s 150-meter record from 2009. He missed it by a mere 0.06 seconds, but still managed to break the American record in the event—a notable feat in itself. And that’s not all. In the Bahamas, Lyles clocked an astonishing 8.88 seconds for his 100m split in the 4x100m relay, a time that hints he’s inching closer to Bolt’s legendary 9.58 seconds in the 100m. After the race, the 26-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter), teasing, “A preview for Paris.”

In 2023, Usain Bolt highlighted the immense challenge of breaking his records. Despite Noah Lyles coming close to Bolt’s 9.58 seconds in the 100m, Bolt’s assertion that “I think the 100m’s going to be harder (to break) because it’s quicker, and if you make a mistake during the race you’re not going to get it,” rings true.

He also emphasized the technical precision required for the 100m, adding, “So I think maybe the 100m’s going to go last.” Reflecting on these words from the “world’s fastest man,” what are your thoughts on Noah Lyles’ ambition? Could he surpass Usain Bolt this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!