On His Way to Break Usain Bolt’s Record, Noah Lyles Names His First 2024 Obstacle Before Olympics

Noah Lyles ignites the track with his blazing speed, much like his fiery claims. His “3Peat” triumph in 2023 solidified his dominance in track and field. And now that the 2024 season has just begun to unfold, Lyles aims for not just a sprint triple but also a “quadruple.”

He also dares to dream of breaking Usain Bolt’s legendary 200-meter world record of 19.19 seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympics, boldly declaring, “We’re coming after everything.” In light of these epic ambitions, he recently shared his first goal: to reclaim his 300-meter indoor record from the iconic Steven Gardiner in the 2022 South Carolina Invitational.

Noah Lyles aims to claim his broken record

On Noah Lyles’ podcast, “Sprint Talk: Unveiling the Face of Total Running Productions and the Climate of Track and Field,” the 2023 World Champion sat down with Andrew Martin, the track and field analyst and content creator. The duo discussed all things track and field, right from marathons to goals for the Olympic year and even “PR” socks. However, a moment stood out when Lyles and Martin discussed the rumors about aiming for a “quadruple.”

Lyles expressed his eagerness about the goal, after which Martin mused, “I mean, you did hold the indoor 300 world record for a long time”. In reply, Lyles shared, “I did. I did hold it for a few years. The only reason it’s not mine again is ’cause I haven’t run it since that year.” Martin then inquired, “You think you could beat Gardiner’s 31.56?” to which the bold Noah Lyles stated, “100%. I did that in my first year of being professional.”

Lyles also explained how, at the time, he had “no weight training, horrible block starts” and did not even have a proper physical form. However, he emphasizes how his form has evolved, bolstering his ambitions and chances. As anticipation mounts for Lyles’ ambitious pursuits, let’s revisit how Steven Gardiner shattered his record back in 2022.

How did Steven Gardiner shatter Lyles’ record?

In 2022, at the South Carolina Invitational, Steven Gardiner from the Bahamas, already a champion in the 400-meter race at both the world and Olympic levels, decided to try something different and race a shorter course in the 300-meter race. With sheer perfection, Gardiner surged to the finish line, surpassing Nathon Allen to clinch the gold medal. But he not only earned his gold medal; his time of 31.56 seconds broke the world indoor record of  31.87 seconds, set in 2017 by the iconic Noah Lyles.

Read More: Despite Losing to Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley Might Have Created a Shocking Record at Boston Prix

Gardiner’s achievement was particularly remarkable, as only seven men, including Usain Bolt, Michael Johnson, and Wayde van Niekerk, have ever run faster than 300 meters outdoors. As the anticipation builds for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Noah Lyles’ audacious claims have the track and field community eagerly awaiting the unfolding of what promises to be an electrifying season.

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