Noah Lyles has his eyes set on Usain Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58 seconds. He articulated his ambition with determination, asserting, “For this year (2024) specifically, I want to solidify myself as the world’s fastest man in the 100m…I definitely have the American record in the 100m on my mind and even the world record,” referencing his personal best of 9.83s achieved last year. However, Lyles’ hopes hit a low when his rival claimed the 200m title with a 2024 world-leading time.

Noah Lyles is working towards breaking the time set by Kenny Bednarek at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha, a personal best of 19.67s. In a congratulatory post on X, Lyles applauded Bednarek’s performance and issued a friendly challenge. “Shout out to Kenny Bednarek for that 19.6 world lead. That was impressive! I will let you keep it till June 9th.”

Why June 9, you might ask? Well, that’s when Noah Lyles plans to show his skill at the USATF NYC Grand Prix in the iconic Icahn Stadium. Bednarek, the Olympic silver medalist, responded with confidence, “Challenge accepted.” Now, the question looms: Can Noah Lyles not only break his rival’s record but also make history by breaking the 200m world record?

June 9 is just a week away, yet Noah Lyles’ record-breaking ambitions hang in uncertainty. Recently, Lyles faced a setback at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica, where his invincible streak took a surprising turn. In the men’s 100m event, Lyles, who had been in the form of his life, had to settle for second place. Crossing the finish line with a commendable 9.85, he found himself trailing behind World bronze medalist Oblique Seville, who sprinted to victory with a world-leading and personal best time of 9.82s.

This unexpected defeat marked Noah Lyles’ first setback of the season in the 100m category, a notable departure from his unbeaten streak, including victories at the Tom Jones Memorial and the Bermuda Grand Prix earlier in the season. As he sets his sights on recovering from this loss and beating Usain Bolt’s records, it’s important to note he isn’t the only one whose goal is to achieve that feat this year.

Just a few weeks ago, Lyles compatriot Fred Kerley tweeted, “World record next time I touch the 100m.” While that was a bold statement to make, what made it even more difficult to fathom is his 100m performance this season. The 29-year-old hasn’t breached the 10s mark, with a personal best of 10.03s from March. Compared to Lyles’ P2 in the 2024 charts and Christian Coleman’s P9 – courtesy of his 9.95s-dash in Eugene – Kerley slots in at P27. That said, there are also athletes who don’t want to be part of the conversation to surpass Usain Bolt.

In an interview with Citius Mag a month ago, Letsile Tebogo was asked about his inclination to break world records this year, just as Lyles and Coleman want to do. He replied, “Take me out of that world record conversation because I don’t want that pressure to put myself in. Let Lyles speak about the world record and everyone else who wants to speak about it. I’m not part of that team.”

Coming back to Noah Lyles and his quest for the title of World’s Fastest Person. Rather than dwelling on his defeat to Bednarek, Lyles is already looking ahead, unveiling his ambitious plans for the outdoor season. After securing silver at the Glasgow World Indoor Championships, his new approach to racing is on track.

Embracing unorthodox techniques

Despite his second-place finish behind Christian Coleman at the 2024 Glasgow World Indoor Championships, Noah Lyles remains resolute in his pursuit of greatness. Reflecting on his performance, he defended his unorthodox starting technique, highlighting its strategic advantages over more conventional methods. “It’s so funny because a lot of people will say like, ‘Oh! He didn’t have a great start!’”

Asserting that his approach, though it may seem slower initially, positions him for a stronger finish and overall performance, he explained, “You can’t see that this start that I had that might not look as fast is technically more sound and sets up for a better race down the line. So, while everyone is standing up, I’m still driving; when everyone is reaching top speed, I’m still accelerating; while everyone is dying, I am still in my topping speed. There is a plan to it, and it’s gotten better and now at the point where I can do it and run 6.4. So, the sky is the limit!” 

With his sights set on the 100m and 200m events, Lyles remains resolute in his quest to achieve extraordinary feats on the track. He aims to shatter Usain Bolt’s iconic 200m record of 19.19 set in 2009. Backed by meticulous planning and confidence in his abilities, Lyles sees limitless potential in his future performances, aiming for a time of 19.10 in the 200m event as a realistic target. He remains a formidable force in the world of sprinting, with a remarkable track record that includes triple World Championship titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Budapest.

As speculation swirls around his performance, Noah Lyles continues to be a frontrunner for success, carrying the hopes of many as a leading contender for the upcoming Paris Olympics.