The 2024 season was a remarkable one for Noah Lyles. Indeed, he was a fan favorite out there in the 100m and the 200m, as he is the defending world champion in those categories. However, that didn’t make him invulnerable to the critics, who always compared him with Jamaica’s rising star Kishane Thompson. Indeed, the Jamaican athlete astonished everyone at the Jamaican Olympic Trials with his impressive speed in the 100m, instantly establishing himself as a serious contender against the American runner.

Many track and field fans in Paris eagerly anticipated their rivalry, and fate had a predetermined outcome. Indeed, both of them squared off against each other in the 100m finals at the Olympic Games, and Lyles beat Thompson with just a 0.005-second difference. This became the highlight of the season, and recently the American track star opened up about how frustrated he was with these comparisons, for which he had to deliver and shut the critics down in his own way.

Noah Lyles describing his experience from a champion’s perspective

Every track and field fan can agree that the men’s 100m finals at the Paris Olympics was nothing short of breathtaking. Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson shared the same grid, but there can be a single winner. So Lyles described his gold medal feat in the Beyond The Records Podcast on YouTube, stating, “I will say this every time: I didn’t know if I won; I didn’t think I won; I didn’t know what happened; I couldn’t see anybody. I’m like, literally, I crossed all I had was a feeling, and you know, I’m a man of faith as well, and I remember getting closer to that line, and something just told me you gotta lean, and I rarely lean because I don’t believe that leaning is very good unless it’s a dire situation.”

The American runner found himself in a complex situation shortly after the start of the race. How so? “I was in last place for 50 meters of the race; the data shows it,” said Lyles. The Olympic champion has sometimes been underwhelming in his race starts, and the same issue emerged in the 100m finals. But, despite all that, he still managed to get that accolade. However, he went through a lot of criticism for it, which he described, stating, “So many people are like, ‘Oh, you know he’s not a great starter; he’s not going to be able to win like Kishane is just that much better,’ and yada yada yada. It’s like, ‘Guys, y’all don’t know what it’s like to be at the biggest stage for the main event.'”

Track and field is just more than a sport; it is driven by the emotions of fans and athletes alike. And when the adrenaline is full ahead or during the event, this criticism can severely impact an athlete’s mentality. Despite critics criticizing him for his race abilities, Lyles persevered, focusing solely on his own performance and not allowing the comments to overwhelm him. The American runner never minded a certain rivalry, as he always appreciated his fellow track athletes. However, he finds the criticism, particularly the comparisons, intolerable.

“Like, when the chips are down, we were just talking about being in that event, and we all know it: when you’re by yourself, there’s nobody else that can help you; it is you and you alone, and you have to have that unbelievable faith that this moment was made for you, because if you don’t, somebody else is gonna take it,” Lyles further stressed about the mentality that he needs to carry in a track meet. Indeed, the American is not only a tough person when it comes to his physique but also mentally he is very strong. It is also one of his abilities that shines on track, as pointed out by one of his fellow Team USA athletes.

Fellow athlete on Noah Lyles

The community is well aware of Noah Lyles’ abilities on the track. But he’s also known for his charisma. Throughout the 2024 season, he consistently demonstrated his charisma, leaving his fans well-versed in all his tricks. However, after Lyles’ successful Olympic campaign, teammate Gabby Thomas stressed his mentality, stating, “Noah Lyles would be a really good F1 driver as he is fearless.” 

F1 is a sport just like track. Adrenaline is everything! However, the chemicals in the body tend to take over the minds of many athletes, either resulting in a banger performance or the biggest flop that any fan would ever witness. Lyles, as described by his teammate, is just fearless on the track and never shies away from a challenge, just like an F1 driver who is never afraid to go flat out on those high-speed corners. Indeed, the American has always embraced the difficulties in life and faced them like a champion, and his accolades do talk about his career.