Noah Lyles on a mission to make more history: 'I love it'
The American captured gold in the 200m at Athletics Worlds last year in Eugene, and maintains his unique fan-forward approach: 'I want to entertain.'
Athletics
As Noah Lyles chases history – namely Usain Bolt’s 200m world record of 19.19 – on the track, he continues to make history off it, too.
Athletics has never quite seen anyone like Lyles: A fierce promoter of the sport and his own competitors; an outspoken advocate on mental health awareness; and a fashion-forward 25-year-old who likes to open new doors wherever he goes.
“I love it,” Lyles said recently in a podcast interview when he was called “the face of track & field.”
“This is my goal,” he continued. “My goal wasn’t to be a world record holder, grab as many World Championships or Olympic medals... my goal was to transcend the sport and take it to a place that it’s never been, that it’s never seen.”
“I want to leave a book of, ‘Oh, we don’t have to just do it this way – we can go way further than what’s presented to us,’” Lyles added.
A scroll through Lyles’ many social media accounts confirm that approach, as does his YouTube series, which gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at his training, his mental approach and who he is off of the track, too.
But this season - off of what he called his best year yet - the American record holder wants to continue to grow all of that and more.
Asked later on the On Track Podcast if he was done reaching goals, Lyles didn’t hesitate.
“Not even close,” he replied. “Not even close.”
Noah Lyles: The 2022-23 edition
It’s set to be a busy season for Lyles, who punctuated the 2021-22 year with his second 200m world title. His bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 in 2021 was viewed by many as a disappointment, but the Florida native only used that experience as further fuel.
His 19.31 to win at Worlds broke the American record that had stood for 26 years: Since Michael Johnson raced a 19.32 to capture gold at Atlanta 1996.
“I knew when he came off the curve that this was going to be special,” Johnson told NBC Sports in a surprise interview with Lyles late last year. “When you're thinking about Noah, you're not thinking about the U.S. record, you’re thinking of the world record and [it] coming back to America. I was thinking, 'Is he on world record pace?'"
Lyles said that was the dream (“I was planning on running 19.10”) - and even voiced disappointment to Olympics.com of falling short of that mark - but it’s that very 19.19 by Bolt is one that he will continue to chase this outdoor season, starting this weekend (6 May) at the adidas Atlanta City Games, held in Centennial Olympic Park, a 1996 landmark from the Games.
Benchmark events for Lyles also include the Paris Diamond League (9 June) and the U.S. Championships (6-9 July), all leading up to the Athletics World Championships in Budapest, Hungary (19-27 August).
“People are coming to be entertained”
It was in that same interview with Johnson that Lyles had earlier admitted to a planned celebration: He tore the top of his racing singlet in half as Hayward Field roared back at him.
But it’s all part of the Lyles approach: Transcending the sport while also being one of the best.
“It's one thing to win a world title, but people are coming to be entertained,” he told Maria Taylor on NBC. “And I want to entertain them. You don't go to a basketball game just to see them shoot a jumpshot. The antics, the environment, the energy... that's what you come to see. So I'm going to give it to you."
To add to that drama, the men’s sprinting scene in the U.S. has been flooded with talent. Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton were the first trio from one country to sweep a men’s sprint podium at a Worlds or Olympics when they went 1-2-3 in Eugene, while three other American speedsters swept the men’s 100m.
Lyles on mental health - and his inner circle
But for all of the bluster around Lyles there is also the aforementioned meticulous mental approach: A sports psychologist; therapy. He said it was part of his learnings from the Tokyo Games.
“I learned to keep my loved ones close and my therapist closer,” Lyles explained, having co-founded the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, which aims to “empower youth through health and wellness.”
He added: “Learning how to deal with stress and vulnerable situations; knowing when to ask for help when I need it. ... And controlling what I can control.”
While his brother Josephus makes his own inroads on the track, his joy is most abundant with those closest to him. A showman with an intimate inner circle.
“The joyful moments are just that much more exciting” with those people, Lyles told Athletics Weekly earlier this year. “Usually those are people who have been on the journey with you, so when you have family or team members, you can confide in them and truly enjoy those moments.”
And now begs the question: What more moments will Lyles continue to create this athletics season?