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Noah Lyles, a three-time world champion and prominent figure in track and field, claimed the title of the world's fastest man on Sunday at the world championships in Budapest. With a remarkable victory in the 100 meters, Lyles solidified his status as the sport's biggest star leading up to the Paris Olympics next year.
Lyles, who is widely recognized as the king of the 200 meters, completed the 100 meters in 9.83 seconds, marking both the fastest time of his career and the fastest time in the world this year. While Lyles has primarily focused on the 200 meters, he now holds the world champion title in the highly regarded 100-meter event. This achievement propels him towards the superstardom he has always aspired to beyond the realm of track and field.
After the results were confirmed, Lyles expressed his gratitude to God, stating, "They said I wasn't the one, but I thank God that I am."
The 26-year-old relied on his exceptional top-end speed to surpass his fellow American competitor Christian Coleman, who is renowned for his exceptional starts and is the reigning 2019 world champion. Coleman finished fifth with a time of 9.92 seconds, while Lyles narrowly surpassed Letsile Tebogo from Botswana and Zharnel Hughes from Britain, who secured the silver and bronze medals with times of 9.88 seconds.
Throughout his career, Lyles has amassed numerous medals while striving to enhance the popularity of track and field. With less than a year until the 2024 Paris Games, Lyles has transitioned from being one of the prominent figures in U.S. track and field to potentially becoming the face of the American team at those Olympics. Following Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's withdrawal from the world championships due to a minor knee injury, Lyles expanded his dominance.
He now sets his sights on breaking Usain Bolt's 200-meter world record. At last year's world championships in Eugene, Oregon, Lyles broke Michael Johnson's American 200-meter record by a mere 0.01 seconds, setting it at 19.31. When asked if he could challenge Bolt's record, Lyles confidently replied, "19.1." Bolt's once seemingly untouchable record of 19.19 now appears more vulnerable following Lyles's impressive performances over the past year. The highly anticipated 200-meter final is scheduled for Friday at 3:50 p.m. Eastern time and is not to be missed.
Lyles heightened anticipation and expectations for his 100-meter performance during a pre-race news conference. Alongside Fred Kerley, the reigning world champion, Lyles confidently dismissed Kerley's claim to the title, stating that others have made similar claims before ultimately being defeated. Kerley did not qualify for the final, finishing ninth in the semifinals with a time of 10.02 seconds.
Lyles's emergence in the 100 meters came after years of unsuccessful attempts to break into the event's elite. He did not qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in the 100 meters for the Tokyo Olympics, finishing seventh in the 2021 trials. Lyles referred to the 100 meters as his "side chick" compared to his primary focus on the 200 meters, in which he won a bronze medal in Tokyo. In the 4x100 relay at the previous world championships in Eugene, Lyles earned a silver medal, benefiting from his speed without relying on his start, which was previously considered a weaker aspect of his skill set.
However, over the past year, Lyles has transformed this perceived weakness into another strength. On Sunday, he exhibited a strong start and quickly caught up to Tebogo and Coleman. In the final half of the race, a group of five runners in the middle lanes sprinted neck-and-neck. In any race with runners in full sprint, Lyles is unbeatable.
Once again, he proved his dominance. Lyles leaned forward at the finish line, appearing to be the winner, but it required a brief confirmation before it was officially announced. Upon hearing of his victory, Lyles knelt down and celebrated by slapping the track with both hands.
Lyles has always been just as much of a performer as a speedy runner. The day prior to the start of the world championships, Lyles promoted a fresh streaming documentary about his life. The film includes a moment from a recent competition in Jamaica, where Lyles triumphed in the 200 meters and Bolt approached him at the finish line. Bolt warmly embraced him and whispered something directly into Lyles’s ear.
“Allow me to express something,” Bolt said to him. “Maintain that same mindset, brother. The sport needs that stuff.”
Lyles desires another encounter with Bolt this week. However, it would not take place on a track but in a revered section of the record book. It would necessitate an extraordinary outcome, but Lyles demonstrated on Sunday that he can deliver anything expected of him — and even the unexpected.