Before the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles promised he’d break Usain Bolt’s records. He didn’t quite do that, but he still came out on top with gold in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m—despite battling a COVID-19 setback. Even with all that, Lyles ran a personal best of 9.79 seconds in the 100m, which ties him for the 12th-fastest time ever. Following his victory he declared his status as the fastest athlete in the world. A person could match Bolt’s times according to Lyles when asked how long it would take someone to do so, “I’m trying to get it done as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t give you an exact date.”
But for Lyles, it’s not just about breaking records anymore. His attention now centers on “Transcending the sport.” Track and field observers watch him for swift races but he uses his talent to redevelop how track and field stands in public perception. As Lyles prepares for the upcoming 2025 indoor season by setting his sights on the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston against three experienced sprinters including Marcell Jacobs from Italy along with Zharnell Hughes from Britain and Trayvon Bromell from the United States.
Lyles gave some insight into his new mindset before the race, when he said, “For a long time, it was to prove, I am the world’s fastest man. I knew that eventually I would achieve that goal. Now I am moving on to my second goal, which is: Transcending the sport. I have my own concepts and own beliefs on how to make that happen. There are a lot of organizations that don’t believe that my thoughts are the way to go about it.” It’s clear—Lyles isn’t just running to win races; he’s running to change the game.
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