Boisterous. Confident. Flamboyant. This is how many would describe Noah Lyles. But the U.S. track and field icon has a few skeletons in his closet that he wished would stay hidden. Even though he has been consistently breaking personal records in recent times, things weren’t easy breezy for him back at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 6x World Champion was looking forward to making it to the top of the podium at the Japanese Capital. But in the 200m dash, he trailed behind compatriot Kenny Bednarek and could only muster up a third-place finish in 19.74 seconds.

Even though he had won his maiden Olympic medal, it didn’t feel as good as he assumed it would. What should have been the best day of his life would now haunt him for quite some time. While Lyles had been dealing with a few mental health struggles back then, his demeanor this time around has taken a complete turnaround. As he steps into his second Olympics, the 26-year-old is far more confident about his performance in the French capital. What’s been on the sprinter’s mind?

Noah Lyles wants to shake things up at the Paris Olympics

Unabashed as he is, Noah Lyles had let the world know that he was coming for Usain Bolt’s record. But this bold claim was made after he built his confidence back up at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. The 2020 Tokyo bronze medalist previously was living in the dark shadows of depression.

However, in a conversation with Orange County Register, he stated, “The last Olympics didn’t go to plan. Even this one has had its fair share of trials and tribulations. But I can finally say I am showing up to an Olympic Games not depressed and it feels amazing. A lot of joy.” Lyles seemed to be in better spirits leading up to the Games.

Even though things aren’t all fine and dandy this time around, either. He seems to look at it from a positive perspective. “Even though there are hard times in the moment, I can always think back to the last Olympics and think, ‘No, this one is not the same, this one is way better, and I’m ready to show it.” 

What is the sprinter looking to achieve in Paris, you ask? He’s not just looking to win races, Lyles wants to leave an indelible mark on the sport. He has candidly stated that he wants to surpass Usain Bolt’s world records in the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19 seconds) events.

As ambitious as this sounds, he believes that world records are meant to be broken. However, his personal best at the U.S. Olympic Trials was 9.89 seconds, which he then improved at the London Diamond League with 9.81 seconds. He even ran a world-leading time of 19.53 seconds at the historic Hayward Field in June. However, his chase to the top isn’t going to be easy seeing how we will be locking horns with Kishane Thompson (9.77 seconds) and Ferdinand Omanyala (9.79 seconds) at Stade de France this week.

Leaving his Tokyo heartbreak in the past

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were set to take place that year until the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in everyone’s plans. However, when they did take place a year later, things just didn’t feel the same. Lyles opened up about how he had to stop taking his anti-depressants a few months before the trials because they left him feeling drained.

“Mentally, getting on and off the antidepressants, it was really hard.” Even though he had made it through to his maiden Olympic berth, he didn’t feel like it was going to be an easy year for him. His worst fears came true when he completed the podium in the 200m event. “I feel that if I would have won gold that day, I would have become a little content in who I was,” he stated.

Unfortunately, the lack of crowds in the stadiums added more to his woes. Known to thrive on attention, the sprinter felt isolated, further pushing him into the void. However, that was a Noah of the past. “I’m not depressed, for sure. The pills are in the past…Thankfully, I’m not coming off antidepressants [this time],” he recently stated.

The atmosphere at Stade de France and Olympic Stadium in Japan are poles apart. The preliminary rounds for 100 take place on August 3, the finals commence on August 4, and the 200m finals are set for August 8. With a full house this time around, will Lyles be able to fulfill his prophecy at the French capital?