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  Debate

Debate

Is Noah Lyles' break from track and field a sign of bigger things to come?

Noah Lyles has always been a master of juggling his on and off-track commitments, balancing the intense demands of being a top-tier track and field athlete with the spotlight that comes with being an American public figure. But ever since his triumphant return from the City of Love, where he secured two new Olympic medals, something has shifted. Lyles has seemingly put a pause on his athletic pursuits, leaving fans puzzled as he’s notably absent from the ongoing Diamond League meets, where the world’s fastest continue to compete.

Yet, it’s clear that this isn’t just a break for Lyles. He’s already deeply immersed in a new, exciting project that’s capturing his focus. In a tantalizing Instagram story, Lyles gave his followers a sneak peek at an outdoor filming setup, cryptically captioned ‘Netflix Day.’ Speculation is swirling that this shoot is for the highly anticipated second season of SPRINT, the docu-series set to premiere on November 13. The series promises to offer a no-holds-barred look at the journeys of Lyles and other track stars, following them from the high-stakes Olympic trials to the intense drama of the Paris podiums.

With cameras rolling and production cables snaking across the scene, it appears that Lyles is already filming his segments, diving into the behind-the-scenes moments that fans are eager to see. As the athletic world buzzes with speculation about his absence from the track, one thing is certain: Noah Lyles is gearing up to make a splash both on screen and in the sport, and the drama is only just beginning.

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Apart from Noah Lyles, the sequel of SPRINT is set to feature which of the supremely talented and mind blowingly fast track athletes you may ask? Well, the golden triad winner, Gabby Thomas as well as American phenoms Twanisha Terry, Melissa Jefferson, Kenny Bednarek, and Fred Kerley are also expected to be making an appearance. Moreover, Olympic medalists Kishane Thompson, Letsile Tebogo, and Julien Alfred are also anticipated to be a part of the show. Whereas, the notable absence of Sha’Carri Richardson has come as a stark blow to the fans.

However, there is time until November for the focus to shift to this. Currently, track athletes are swamped with their performances in Diamond League circuit, where each sprint counts in a bid to end the season on a high. However, Noah Lyles remains notably absent, leaving the door wide open for his competitors to romp add additional 100m and 200m wins to their season records.

Noah Lyles has possibly ended the 2024 season?

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Appearing on the Nightcap podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Noah Lyles made a revelation. One that dashed the hopes of watching him in sprinting action this season. He claimed that his 2024 season has come to a close. Ever since, neither the Lausanne chapter nor the Silesian one featured him storming down the tracks. While his compatriots, Bednarek and Kerley had both been present.

What’s your perspective on:

Is Noah Lyles' break from track and field a sign of bigger things to come?

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Particularly, the 200m ground now lies wide open for the Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, who he has been capitalizing the DL circuit to the best of his abilities so far. Claiming back-to-back wins, with 19.64s at Lausanne and 19.83 at Silesia, Tebogo is extending his 200m record. Whereas, for Noah Lyles, this is his first season since 2018 that isn’t ending with him ranked as #1 on the 200m table. What do you think of this? Let us know below.

But wait. Before you go, check out our latest episode of the EssentiallySports Think Tank Exclusive. And catch Madisen Skinner’s coach spilling the beans on his star pupil.

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