Noah Lyles vs Christian Coleman: Search for America’s ‘Golden Dream’ for Paris Olympics 2024

For over a decade, Michael Phelps has chased the American dream, waving the red-blue flag high over Olympic waters. But since his retirement, a worry has circled among fans about who would step up to continue that legacy. 

So, who could America’s next golden dream be? Well, the options lie wide open. Team USA’s star-studded lineup – Sha’Carri Richardson, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and more can help the fanbase keep their hopes up. But one rivalry, painting the bittersweet relationship of the sport, might take the spotlight. This is Noah Lyles vs Christian Coleman – the two fastest men alive on the planet. 

For months, Lyles and Coleman have gone neck to neck in each bout, leaving fans at the edge of their seats until the finish line. Circling back to nostalgia, Christian left Noah in splits after a historic finish at Prefontaine Classic 2023. No one expected Coleman to steal the show, but the scoreboard narrated a fresh story. And well, one can call Eugene his favorite turf; the man arguably ran the world’s fastest 100m in 2019. 

Since then, the two men decided to be the best versions of themselves, always smiling at the start line, hoping to etch their names in history books. 

The day it all started 

It was a fine evening in 2019. Noah Lyles had just clocked the slowest time of his career and was unhappy with the performance. “Definitely the slowest, and it was hot that day,” Lyles had commented during an NBC interview. The now ‘three-peat’ champion wasn’t feeling it at all, courtesy of a lazy 200m. He knew of Coleman at the time, calling him a traditional rival, but was unaware of the storm brewing in the silence. 

Soon, the 2019 Worlds became the stepping stone for their careers as both men walked away with medals and bouquets in their hands. Their faces lit up with smiles, but their minds were on a mission to become the next big star. 

Tokyo Olympics – The ‘Career’ hiatus for Coleman

2020 was a strange year. While Lyles wanted to rewrite Bolt’s glory, Coleman became his own enemy. The latter received an 18-month ban in the wake of doping allegations. And that led to a shadow of sheer disappointment spreading over the track world, as they would now have to wait another 4 years before witnessing a timeless classic.

However, Noah Lyles wiped off the sorrows with a bronze, finishing right below Canada’s Andre De Grasse and the USA’s Kenneth Bednarek. 

The Rise Of Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman

Residuals of the 18-month ban still haunted Coleman’s 2022 track season. The sprinter had to walk out multiple losses, driving down a negative road. On the other hand, Noah Lyles was doing the unexpected, adding the first American record under his name. It was as if he was the king of the sport and now had to add a few Olympic records to hold his throne. But as they say, things don’t last forever. The tension in their rivalry started to build up. 

Fast forward to 2023, Noah Lyles experienced the best year of his career. He became the second man, after Usain Bolt, to win not one but three golds in a single World Athletics Championship. Lyles was on cloud nine. Brand deals, sponsorships, and records just kept swooping in. It was safe enough to say that his name became a brand in itself, and the respect was inevitable. 

On the other hand, Coleman was constantly trying to find his breakthrough. From improving his outdoor timings to shining in college meets, the Indoor World Champion tried to fill every gap. After all, he had to match up against a king, and the war would never be easy. So, until the Prefontaine Classic 2023, their guards were high.

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The showstopping Prefontaine Classic 2023 

The evening of September 17 unfolded in Eugene with all eyes on Noah Lyles. While Coleman fans had all their faith, a few feared the storm. But it was just a matter of 9.83 seconds, after which a silent whoosh of the finish line swayed all Noah Lyles’ supporters to zip up. Christian Coleman created history on Hayward Soil to defeat Noah Lyles.

And from that very moment, the track world has remained torn between Lyles and Coleman.

The final showdown is on

Now, it’s time. After five years of battling against each other, it all comes down to the final race. Not just to decide who the better sprinter is but for a pathway for fans to know America’s next golden dream. So far, Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles have gone up against each other five times. Out of that, the former has clinched victory in four, instantly reminding the king never to back down. And, well, the indoor turf stands at the forefront, as Coleman is known for his World Champion status. 

So, the question lies ahead: who is America’s next golden dream? Is it the brave Noah Lyles who has consistently proved his worth? Or is it the underdog Christian Coleman who silenced the world when he had to? 

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