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The 2023 World Athletics Championships asserted every element to keep the adrenaline flowing among the spectators. From Sha’Carri Richardson’s record-breaking victory to Noah Lyles’ triumphant win on the tracks of Budapest, the Championships has covered it all. Interestingly, it was not only the sprinters who made it to the spotlight. The proud mothers of the athletes also made many heads turn their way by expressing their heartfelt prayers for the participants.

However, amidst all the victories and triumphs came a heart-wrenching incident that shook the community to the core and left the Jamaican sprinting prodigy, Andrew Hudson, with some brutal lacerations. The fatal mishap took place, when Lyles and Hudson were sprinting their way through 200m semifinals at Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ in Budapest.

Unprecedented mishap caused stir on the tracks of Budapest

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At the World Athletics Championships 23 held in Budapest from August 19–27, 49 track and field and road races took place. Lyles was unfortunately involved in a golf buggy collision while they were on their way to the stadium for the 200m semifinal on Thursday night. One of the volunteers was flung off from one of the buggies as a result of the collision.

While he was racing, the World Athletics posted a mother’s special video on YouTube titled “Always There – Mothers.” In the clip, Keisha, Lyles’s mother expressed her concern and prayed to god saying,

“Don’t let anybody in the race get hurt, no false starts and everybody runs to the best of their abilities

Her humbleness and warmth were contagious as she went on to say, “Dear God please give Noah a feet with angels Wings.” Although the crash was of great intensity, fortunately, Lyles dodged a bullet on his way. However, Jamaican sprinter Andrew Hudson was seriously injured in the incident.

Despite, receiving permission to sprint, Hudson had glass fragments in his right eye while running. The medical specialist shared that his cornea was scratched which resulted in blurry vision in the 200m semi-finals where he finished eighth.

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Lyles competed for gold in the 100m and the American men’s 4x100m relay in addition to the 200m sprint. Impressively, he took home three gold medals in each of the registered races adding his name to the 3X gold champions list about 16 Years after Allyson Felix. Previously, in the 200-meter race at the World Championships in 2019 and 2022, Lyles took home two of his three gold medals. Once again at the top of the track and field standings, do you remember the time when Lyles shared his vulnerable side?

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Reigning 200m sprinter opens up about competing far from home

Lyles’ sporting career is soaring with each passing day and like many elite athletes, he eventually realized that his mental health was faltering. The 26-year-old once said in an Instagram Live with the Olympic Channel that “I was just in Europe for so long and I was getting really homesick” before the World Championships last year.

He candidly stated that his mental health was seriously deteriorating and that he had even lost interest in his rigorous sports regimen. He also disclosed that he had considered going back home. His mother, Keisha proposed taking antidepressants following their discussion about his condition, to which Lyles agreed.

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Some years back, he even Tweeted about taking the medication saying it was the “best decision” he made. Now with these latest gold medals in the World Championship, Noah Lyles added his name to the history books despite every setback in his way.

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