Noah Lyles may very well be the next big thing in the track and field world, and his legacy dates back 10 years ago to a moment that set the stage. Lyles was making waves long before the spotlight of international stardom shone brightly upon him. Calling him a boy wonder may be apt after all, and we’ll tell you why. This is the story of a teenage rising star, who grabbed his first gold under the five rings at just 17. And now, after a decade, the same young boy is not just aiming for gold in the upcoming Summer Olympics but is dreaming of shattering world records set forth by the biggest and baddest  – Usain Bolt.

At just 17 years old, Lyles catapulted himself into the spotlight. The stage was the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. Young and fearless Noah with the same confidence that he carries now on his shoulders, graced the track with thunderous speed. And clocking an impeccable time of 20.71 seconds in the 200-meter final, he not only grabbed his first gold but signaled the arrival of a sprinting phenom.

Youth Olympic Champion Noah Lyles eyes Paris Olympics gold and world records 

Fast forward to today. Noah Lyles, with a record-breaking sprint of 19.53 seconds in 200-meter, has grabbed the ticket to the Paris Olympics representing the USA. With six golds in the World Championships, five in the Diamond League, and one in the Youth Olympic Games, Lyles is just counting the days to add more to the list. Amid this, the official X handle of The Olympic Games wanted to go down memory lane. They shared a throwback video of 17-year-old Lyles’ sprint in the 200-meter dash from a decade back in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. They wrote in the caption, “Noah Lyles before it was cool to be Noah Lyles. ⏪🏃‍♂️💨 17-year-old @LylesNoah was simply too fast at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.🥇 This is how he stormed to victory in his 200m final, announcing himself as one of the up-and-coming stars of the track.”

Coached by his father, Kevin, Noah Lyles was indeed sprinting towards destiny since his teen days. Young Lyles can be spotted in the clip dominating the lanes in bright red, the same color that he adorned on the final day of the U.S. Olympics Trials at the historic Hayward Field. Back in 2014, crossing the finish line wasn’t merely a feat of victory, but a statement of resurgence for Team USA in the Youth Olympic Games that year. The results were not acting in favour of Team USA in the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. However, the team roared back with the undeniable talent and raw speed of the 17-year-old Lyles. 

Despite a light headwind, Lyles recorded 20.71 seconds in the 200-meter dash and reduced his timing by 0.11 seconds. After the run, young Lyles said, “Yesterday we were a little sad but we proved tonight we are not going down, but up, and there is nothing going to stop us.” His words resonated with the same confidence and grit that it does today when he said, “the USA is the USA. We ain’t taking anything lightly. We don’t give anything” to his Jamaican rivals.

Fans go wild over young Lyles’ historic sprint at the 2014 Youth Olympics

Watching the decade-old video, fans could not keep calm. Witnessing their favorite track star creating history at such a young age, netizens flooded the comment section with their valuable reactions. 

Seeing the performance of Noah Lyles at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and his subsequent rise to stardom, one fan could not resist from calling him, “The GOAT” (Greatest of All Time). This comment from a fan also underscores their high hopes and rising expectations from Lyles as he prepares to fight for the gold in Paris. 

Referring to the caption where it was mentioned that the clip showcased Lyles before he became the sensation, Noah Lyles, the official page of the Olympics, added that he was always remarkable despite his age. Going against the statement of the caption, they commented, “PS: It was always cool to be Noah Lyles.”. He has indeed emerged as a phenomenon of sorts and will continue to be so. It’s the Noah Lyles effect getting a stranglehold on us.

Lyles’ early achievements and potential made him a standout figure long before he gained widespread fame. One fan highlighted Noah Lyles’ incredible journey from his impressive 2014 Youth Olympics performance to his current status as a world-renowned sprinter and defending world champion, poised to dominate the Paris Olympics. “And look at him now🔥”, wrote the X user.

“Eatin up that Lane 7 early on!” added another netizen reflecting on his blazing speed and jaw-dropping finish on Lane 7. With an impressive start and an aggressive speed from the beginning of the race in Lane 7, he took the lead in seconds outpacing all his competitors. 

As he gears up to make headlines once again, one thing remains certain, that Lyles will face his ultimate litmus test in Paris and whether he clinches his much desired goals is up for us to see. All hail Noah Lyles.