“I’m so proud of you,” Keisha Caine Bishop tells her son, Noah Lyles. She’s been his rock through thick and thin, always there during tough times, whether it was dealing with asthma, mental health challenges, or even COVID-19 during the Olympics. Now, Lyles is making waves on social media again with the release of a short film called The Fastest Man in the World, which he revealed right after winning the gold medal in the 100 meters in Paris. With all that he’s accomplished, Keisha has some advice for him, and you can just feel her pride and excitement for what’s next in his journey.

On Noah Lyles’ YouTube channel, a recent video captured a tough moment at the Stade de France, where he fell short of achieving the coveted Olympic “sprint double” in the 200 meters. Despite being the three-time defending world champion, he finished in surprising third place.

Upon reaching the end of the race track and crossing the finish line, Lyles seemed to be feeling under the weather; he was hunched over. He struggled to catch his breath as he called out for some water urgently needed to rehydrate himself. Later on, it was observed that he had to be transported in a wheelchair. It was subsequently disclosed that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The gold medal was claimed by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo with a time of 19:46 seconds. However, Lyles’s finish time of 19:70 seconds fell short of his performance.

Despite the disappointment, his mother’s voice in the background of the video offered powerful encouragement. “But I want you to know that as you’re going through those challenges, truly believe in your heart that you don’t care what happens to you in life—every single thing is going to work together for your good, and you were created with a purpose and a plan.”

Bishop further added, “You are here to be the best version of yourself you can be, whether that’s an athlete, an artist, whether it’s someone with dyslexia who learns how to read better, whatever it is, you can do it, and I believe in you, so go through life and become the best version of yourself.” Her words show her belief in Noah that setbacks are just part of the journey. However, Lyles’ mother has been there for her since childhood.

Noah Lyles is from a family where going the extra mile was par for the course

Noah Lyles hails from a family deeply ingrained in the world of sports and athleticism; his parents, Keisha Caine Bishop and Kevin Lyles, were once track athletes themselves. When Noah was growing up in Alexandria, Virginia, alongside his sister Abby and brother Josephus, the latter also showcased sprinter prowess. The atmosphere he lived in was saturated with love for athletics, and the dream of reaching the Olympics seemed as ordinary as obtaining a driver’s license.

Keisha shared during an interview with Today, “To them, making the Olympics was like getting a driver’s license.” She emphasized how track and field Olympians impacted their family dynamics. It wasn’t all sailing though. Noah encountered obstacles during his childhood, such as health issues and financial hardships. He has been candid about his struggles with depression as a grownup. Nowadays, his family is dedicated to spreading their narrative in order to motivate others to overcome challenges.

Keisha said, “I think one of the reasons we were put in this position is because we are willing to be transparent about how hard it is. We want people to know it is hard, but you can do it.” Noah also talked openly about a dark period in 2019 before his debut Olympics and the loneliness he experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in feelings of depression and longing for home.

In 2019, while in Amsterdam for a competition, Keisha visited him, bringing along his favorite cereal, Raisin Bran Crunch, to help ease his homesickness. He reflected on his experience at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, saying, “I didn’t want to leave… I had to make a decision. I was like, ‘All right, I’ve got to get better. I can’t let this control me.’”

“My mom is my biggest inspiration,” Noah said, emphasizing the countless sacrifices she made for him and his brother. He described her as a hardworking person, recalling her mantra: “I don’t care what the job is; as long as I’m able to make money for my family, I’ll do the job. And I will do it to the best of my ability.”

Noah deeply connects with this perspective and even gets emotional when discussing the bond he shares with his mother. “My mom means everything to me,” he expresses fondly. His battle with asthma commenced at the tender age of three; Keisha recalls how it significantly impacted his life. “He couldn’t eat without coughing. He couldn’t play. His quality of life went down.” At five years old, his condition was diagnosed as reactive airway disease, an ailment that often landed him in urgent medical care. Despite facing obstacles, along the way, Keisha made every effort to establish a conducive living space at home.