Leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles let the world know what his sights were set on. He looked forward to completing a gold sweep in the French capital. Known for his boisterous nature, many seemed to believe that this was all hearsay. While the 27-year-old couldn’t clinch multiple gold medals, he did accomplish one incredible feat. Team USA was undergoing a 20-year medal drought in the 100m event.

The Olympian didn’t just successfully obliterate the drought, but he etched his name down in the history books. The 100m event is one of the most-anticipated races in the Games, and this year was no different. He surged past his competitors in a blink-and-miss race that lasted 9.92 seconds. Yet he pulled off a stellar win by edging his fiercest rival with 9.784 on the clock. But here’s the kicker! He won by a mere five thousandth of a second. Yet, as the season ended, the sprinter missed out on a massive track and field honor. Who bested him?

Noah Lyles couldn’t replicate the same result as last year

The sprinter left the French capital with 2 Olympic medals—1 gold and 1 bronze. In fact, he’s currently #2 on the men’s 200m 2024 top list. He surged past the finish line in 19.53 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials, shattering Michael Johnson’s record of 19.66 seconds set in 1996. But even after a stellar run, Olympic 110mH champion Grant Holloway was bestowed with the 2024 Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award by USATF.

The 26-year-old had accomplished just about everything in the sport. With a stacked resume, all he was missing was the title of Olympic Champion. Even though he shattered the world record with 7.27 seconds at the USATF Indoor Championships in the 60mH, he still wanted to clinch a shiny Olympic gold. Grant Holloway turned heads with his season best of 12.86 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Yet, this only set the stage for his blistering 12.99-second gold medal-worthy performance in the French capital.

However, Noah Lyles had previously been bestowed with this honor in 2023. Not only was he a 200m specialist, but the sprinter also was undefeated all throughout last season. He clocked 6 sub-20 times, including a world-leading 19.47 at the London Diamond League. But the pièce de résistance was his dominance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Within 6 days, the Olympian bagged three world titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. Yet, this wasn’t the only honor he missed out on this year.

Another award slipped right out of the sprinter’s grasp

The 27-year-old looked forward to bagging a sprint double at Stade de France, but he was denied the first place in the 200m race by none other than Letsile Tebogo. As a result, he ended up finishing third, just like he did in Tokyo. But despite it all, this season has been nothing short of spectacular for the sprinter.

Noah Lyles was definitely on top of the world, but here’s where things started unraveling. With the World Athletics Awards 2024 inching closer, it looked like he could bag the Athlete of the Year Award. And why wouldn’t he? He won last year, didn’t he? However, among the 6 nominees, 2 finalists made it through. Guess what? The Olympian wasn’t picked. But that isn’t all.

The standout time in the 200m last year was 19.47 seconds. Do you know who clocked this blistering time? It was none other than the 27-year-old. Even though he blazed past the finish line in the 100m event this year, the 200m dash has always been his playground. So, it’s safe to assume that he’d be at the top this time around too, right?

In the men’s 200m 2024 Top List, Noah Lyles did carve a spot out for himself. It just wasn’t the #1 spot. His impressive 19.53 seconds at the U.S. Trials earned him the #2 spot. So, who sits at the top, you ask? It’s the Olympic 200m Champion, Letsile Tebogo, with his blistering African record of 19.46 seconds. Here’s the kicker. It happens to be 0.01 seconds faster than last year’s season best. Even though Lyles couldn’t snag this prestigious track and field honor, he did end his season on a high note. 

In the men’s 200m 2024 Top List, Noah Lyles did carve a spot out for himself. It just wasn’t the #1 spot. His impressive 19.53 seconds at the U.S. Trials earned him the #2 spot. So, who sits at the top, you ask? It’s the Olympic 200m Champion, Letsile Tebogo, with his blistering African record of 19.46 seconds. Here’s the kicker. It happens to be 0.01 seconds faster than last year’s season best. Even though Lyles couldn’t snag this prestigious track and field honor, he did end his season on a high note.