Noah Lyles Falls Short to Tennis Legend Novak Djokovic in His Debut for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award

The 25th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards, the Oscars of the sports world, unfolded at the iconic Palacio de Cibeles in the heart of Madrid on April 22. Established in 1999 by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, these awards are often referred to as the ‘Athletes’ Awards’ due to their unique selection process and the high regard in which they are held by sportsmen and women at all levels.

Among the array of titans nominated for the year 2024, the spotlight fell on the Sportsman of the Year category, featuring Novak Djokovic, Mondo Duplantis, Erling Haaland, Noah Lyles, Lionel Messi, and Max Verstappen. USA track fans had pinned their hopes on Noah Lyles, however, their hopes were dashed as the award went to the tennis phenom.

Novak Djokovic surpasses Noah Lyles

Novak Djokovic took a significant stride towards becoming the most successful tennis player of all time by clinching his 24th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s men’s record of 22 titles and matching Margaret Court’s overall record. 2023 being an exceptional year, the world No. 1 also triumphed at the Australian Open and the French Open.

Despite narrowly missing out on a calendar year Grand Slam when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic finished the year on a high note. He secured his 40th Masters event victory in Paris, claiming a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title by defeating Jannik Sinner.

This extraordinary achievement earned Djokovic the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for the fifth time. Having been nominated for the award eight times, he previously won in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2019, and now adds the 2024 award to his illustrious list of victories. Let us also see how Noah Lyles’ 2023 compares to the tennis legend.

Lyles’ exception track record in 2023

In his debut year and first nomination for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award, Noah Lyles proved his mettle as one to watch out for in the world of track and field. Recognized as the World Athlete of the Year in men’s track in 2023, Lyles boasts an impressive resume, with six World Championship titles, four Diamond League Final victories, one World Championship silver medal, and one Olympic Games bronze medal to his name.

He revived memories of Usain Bolt’s dominance with a remarkable “3 Peat” last year at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. He clinched victory in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, an achievement that no sprinter had since Bolt’s 100/200 double at the World Championships in 2015.

Despite barely qualifying for the 100 meters after battling COVID-19 in the lead-up to the US nationals, Lyles stormed to gold in Budapest in a blistering time of 9.83 seconds. “I’ve always known that I’m the fastest man in the world,” he declared to the media after his triumph in Hungary. Despite his exceptional performance, Novak Djokovic clinched the Sportsman of the Year title, marking his name in history. What are your thoughts on the outcome? Comment below!