The game just got serious. Jamaican track legend Usain Bolt currently holds two world records. In 2009, at the Olympiastadion in Germany, the Jamaican sprinter set the new men’s 100m world record with his 9.58 seconds. He followed this feat by also setting the new men’s 200m world record in 19.19 seconds at the same venue. His world records have been safe for more than 10 years. But lately, American track sensation Noah Lyles has been pacing up to break Bolt’s 200m world record. Remarkably, one has been struck off the list.

Last year in Eugene, Lyles successfully surpassed Michael Johnson’s American record and set the third-fastest time of 19.31 seconds in the 200m dash. However, despite multiple attempts this year, Lyles is yet to better his personal best in the division. Yet, speaking of his quest to equal Usain Bolt’s decade-old records, the American has finally managed to overshadow him.

Noah Lyles did the unthinkable

Usain Bolt retired in 2017 and over the course of his career, the Jamaican track legend recorded 34 sub-20 seconds timings in the men’s 200m outdoor division. That record was matched by Noah Lyles a few months ago when he ran 19.83 seconds at the New York City Grand Prix in June. After tying Bolt’s 34th sub 20 seconds record, Lyles went on to record four more sub-20s with two wins in 2023 Diamond League events: one win in the U.S. Track and Field Championships, and a world championship win in Budapest recently. Consequently, Lyles’ record-shattering spree did not go unnoticed by the world.

A Twitter user shared a post about the feat with the caption, “@LylesNoah became the athlete with the most sub 20s in the history of the men’s 200m (outdoor).” The world champion now leads a host of track legends in the sub-20s timings with Usain Bolt, Frank Fredericks, and Michael Johnson all trailing Lyles. In fact, Noah Lyles’ 19.47 time at the London leg of the 2023 Diamond League is also the world-leading time in the men’s 200m this year.

Despite only being 19 years old, American track prodigy Erriyon Knighton also features on the list with an astonishing 17 sub-20s timings during the course of his relatively young career. This list highlights that Lyles has what it takes to set a new 200m world record, but in a recent interview, the world champion revealed what he really thinks about world records.

American track star opens up on world records conversation

Last month, Noah Lyles publicly stated that he will be aiming to set a new 200m world record in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. But in a recent interview, Lyles claimed that he does not give too much importance now to world records.

According to a GQ Sports report, Lyles said, “I believed that gaining two gold medals trumped having the world record. This is a huge debate that goes on in our sport: What’s better, having a world record or an Olympic gold medal? And if you’re choosing the world record, then you’re a fool.” 

He further explained that records are meant to be broken and therefore an athlete should prioritize a gold medal over a world record since a gold medal will forever etch the athlete’s name in history. Whereas once a world record is broken, no one cares about the past world record holder, according to Lyles.

Read more: After 7 Years of Losing to Usain Bolt’s Record, Noah Lyles Posts the Perfect Finish at World Athletics Championship

Since Lyles has already broken Usain Bolt’s sub-20 record, his fans think that it is only a matter of time before he sets a new 200m world record, and with the 2024 Paris Olympics just a year away, the track world will be waiting patiently to witness another epic track and field showdown from Noah Lyles.

Watch this story: After Flaunting World Championship Medals, Noah Lyles Gets Back to Hustle Again Ahead of Prefontaine Diamond League