Noah Lyles sports a gold medal and aims for the stars
After clinching a stunning victory in the 100 meters, Noah Lyles is now setting his sights on even greater achievements at the Paris Olympics, with more medals anticipated as just the beginning of his journey. The world’s fastest man was up late into the night, repeatedly watching his race with the same exhilarating result: a gold medal and a triumphant comeback. Around 2:45 a.m., he finally stopped re-watching the race.
In those 9.784 seconds, Lyles’s life was transformed, though the full impact will take time to realize. The day after his gold-medal win in the 100-meter race, which is the highlight of any Olympic track meet, Lyles’s fame and status in the sports world soared dramatically.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe noted that Lyles is starting to transcend the sport, drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt. Coe emphasized that Lyles is becoming a recognizable figure for younger generations, likening his rise to some of the top athletes globally.
Coe, like many others, marveled at Lyles’s narrow victory, finishing 0.005 seconds ahead of the Jamaican runner with a time of 9.79 seconds. This was the fastest Olympic 100 meters since Bolt set the record with a 9.63 in 2012. Lyles also excelled in the qualifying heats with a time of 20.19 seconds, and he is now focusing on his semifinal and hopes to replicate Bolt’s 2012 and 2016 success by sweeping his events, including the 4×100 relay.
The 27-year-old from Alexandria, Va., appeared at ease after his heat. Although the 200 meters is his signature event, where he hasn’t lost a race since the Tokyo Games, observers are eager to see his performance time rather than just his medal color. Lyles regards the 200 meters as his favorite race because it showcases his speed and overall capabilities. He confidently predicted that his competitors will be left discouraged once he rounds the turn.
Meanwhile, the track world continues to analyze Lyles’s incredible 100-meter final, examining every detail of his race. Despite having a reaction time tied for the slowest among competitors, Lyles’s performance was extraordinary, demonstrating that his starting block issues were outweighed by his exceptional speed.