What do we say about Noah Lyles that hasn’t been said before? The sprinter is a 6x World Champion and 3x Olympic medalist. His boisterous and outgoing nature might not sit too well with some people. But the sprinter is a showman. He can’t help but play it up for the spectators. Yet, even though he talks a big game, he’s ensured he can put his money where his mouth is. We witnessed him rise from the ashes at the recently concluded Paris Olympics as well.

While the 27-year-old is doing better than ever, his rise to the top wasn’t smooth sailing by any means. The sprinter might be brimming with accolades and accomplishments now. However, he dealt with a barrage of issues during his childhood. Not only did he have a tough time growing up with divorced parents, but he also suffered from several concerns. Yet, through it all, the athlete found something that momentarily helped ease that pain.

Noah Lyles bids adieu to an essential part of his life

Looking at the Olympian now, you wouldn’t guess he had to endure several adversities growing up. But Noah Lyles has never shied away from sharing his life with the world. Unbeknownst to many, the sprinter used to be a huge fan of the show The Magic School Bus. But on November 13, he found out that the illustrator of the beloved books had unfortunately passed away. Grieving, the 27-year-old shared the news with fans on X captioned, “Shocking and sad to hear this. It was such a huge part of my childhood.”

Bruce Degen died at 79 at his home in Newtown, Conn. According to his family, the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. The illustrator took a liking to art at an early age. In fact, he pursued that passion by attending New York City’s High School of Art & Music. Later in life, he taught art in New York City schools for 25 years. However, he kept his passion alive by doing freelance illustration. But he eventually began illustrating with other authors.

That’s when he teamed up with Joanna Cole and brought her now-famous The Magic School Bus series to life. The first was published in 1986, and they went on to push out 13 more. The show was extremely popular in the ’90s, and kids couldn’t help but fall in love with the show. Why wouldn’t they? The books and the show would often act as a learning experience. The general premise would revolve around one of the kids coming across a problem, and Ms. Frizzle (the protagonist) would take them on an adventure in her shape-shifting bus!

Doesn’t that sound exciting? Noah Lyles definitely agrees! The self-certified geek has been vocal about his love for video games and comic books previously. While The Magic School Bus doesn’t necessarily count as a comic, the exciting adventures, informative approach, and funny antics possibly caught the sprinter’s eye. But why did the Olympian find an escape in these harrowing yet exciting adventures as a child?

The 27-year-old’s childhood wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows

Growing up, the Olympian suffered from dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Understandably, his academic performance took a massive hit. In fact, this didn’t just make it harder for him to learn at school, but it also gave the other kids a pass to bully him for his learning disability. The sprinter has mentioned how this massively impacted him.

However, if this wasn’t enough, Noah Lyles also had to deal with anxiety, mental health issues, asthma, and allergies. Frequent asthma attacks were often the norm for him. Would you believe us if we told you he wasn’t allowed to participate in any sports back then? Yes, that’s how bad it would get.

The Olympic 100m champion’s mother, Keisha Cane, would always ensure their house was a dust-free sanctuary for him. But with nebulizer treatments and more, they got his asthma under control. Yet, the experience with his chronic asthma wasn’t anything short of a battle. Unfortunately, his formative years weren’t a walk in the park either.

Both his parents used to be former track stars. Even though being an athlete was always in his genes, it wasn’t the best environment for him growing up. When Noah Lyles’ parents divorced in 2008, it put him in a difficult spot for years. It created a rift between the sprinter and his father, Kevin. But it also adds financial struggles with the emotions of watching his parents go separate ways. Yet, throughout it all, the Olympian could embark on a journey with The Magic Bus Ride.