The American sprinting sensation and Olympic bronze medalist Noah Lyles has currently won six world titles, four Diamond League final trophies, and a massive list of other competitive honors in the entirety of his athletic career.
Last year, Lyles successfully reached his greatest achievement by retaining his 200m title from the previous two years, making him a three-peat champion at the 2023 World Championship in Budapest. More so, he became the first person to bag gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays, following the footsteps of Jamaican legend Usain Bolt back in 2015. As an admirer of Bolt, Lyles had always desired to beat his outstanding records in the 100m and 200m divisions.
The fastest man in the world
In a media interview, Lyles declared that he believed to be the fastest man in the world and would break Usain Bolt’s records.
“I’ve always known that I’m the fastest man in the world.. Well, in my head, I think I’m going to break it. I’m planning to break it,” he confidently said.
With this goal in mind, Lyles had a plan of winning four gold medals at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, adding 4,400m relay to his repertoire.
The roots of his sport
Lyles aims to bring track and field’s popularity alongside other major sports. In order to do this, he pushes for the sport’s marketing visibility, even outside major competitions.
He grew up in an athletic household and had begun his career in track and field at the age of twelve. His parents, Kevin Lyles and Keisha Caine, also competed in the same sport at Seton Hall University.
Lyles gained fame after placing first in the 200m race in the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China. He also won silver at the U18 World Championships.
Lyles VS Knighton
Alongside Lyles, Erriyon Knighton is also about to close on Usain Bolt’s 2009 world record in the 200m division. The two American athletes had gained headlines, developing a rivalry of being the top US sprinters.
Last 2022, Knighton became the fourth-fastest man in 200m history at the age of 18, with a record of 19.49 at the LSU Invitational. Apparently, the fourth fastest man before Knighton’s win was Noah Lyles.
With hopes that Knighton might even surpass Bolt’s world record of 19.19, Lyles needed to accept the fact that he was no longer the only one who is talked-about as a half-lap runner in his own country, and eventually the whole world.
The two athletes will face off at the Diamond League meet in Monaco this coming August, and one of them will prove to be the fastest 200-meter runner in the world.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: Olympics.com, Olympics.com