Paris 2024 Olympics: Noah Lyles poised to join Olympic legends in quest to become the world's fastest man
After a thrilling first week at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the focus is shifting to the track.
Cue Noah Lyles.
It’s his time to shine, and the double world champion is more than ready to soak up the spotlight. With a vision to reinvent the sport, Lyles steps on to the Olympic stage determined to etch his name into the annals of track and field history - and beyond.
All eyes will be on him, creating the perfect moment to make his statement.
Lights, camera, action.
Noah Lyles: ‘You have to have the mindset of a god’
In order to revolutionize the world of track and field, one must first establish undeniable credibility. And according to Lyles, to dominate the world of sprinting, you need a mindset bordering on divine.
“You have to have the mindset of a god to be able to think every time that you’re going to win the race. Belief. That is what you have to have. I don’t believe in idols. I believe in myself,” said Lyles. “My mentality is extremely strong. And if it’s not, I’ll train it to be.”
But Lyles doesn’t just talk the talk; he sprints the sprint. In fact, the track star hasn’t lost a 200-meter race since the Tokyo Games, when they finished with a bronze medal.
“I’m ready to transcend the sport. The medals come first because without them, who’s going to pay attention to you? Once you have the medals, then you get the times, and more and more people gain interest. Then you’ve got the whole floor. We have to push the narrative of track and field. We have to do more; we have to be presented to the world."
Entering the Olympics with unshakeable self-assurance, Lyles has no qualms about declaring himself the fastest man alive. At a press conference in Paris, the double reigning world sprint champion made a bold claim. “It’s me,” Lyles said. “It’s always going to be me. I’m a true believer that the moment isn’t bigger than me; the moment was made for me.”
Noah Lyles on reinventing the sport
His moment is now, but what will Lyles do with it?
Short answer: Lyles is on a mission to revive global interest in track and field. “I feel we have a great sport,” he said. “But I am a firm believer that track and field is just not marketed the right way. We could do a better job in selling ourselves and selling our stories.”
For Lyles, transforming the sport requires a shift. “It’s going to take some professionalism. That’s what it’s going to take. I’m sorry, but no more of this amateur stuff.”
Lyles has been outspoken on this topic, directly addressing the World Athletics president: “We got to treat ourselves like a business, not like a nonprofit,” he said. “Hopefully the money will come. But if we aren’t even professional with ourselves, then we’re just a joke.”
With a keen eye on the potential impact of media, Lyles is always looking for the camera moment. He is also hopeful about the recent Netflix series Sprint that spotlights track and field, akin to the effect of Drive to Survive for Formula One and Breakpoint for tennis.
“I am very excited for the Netflix thing because I believe it’s going to show our good and our bad,” he says. “The matchups, the fast times, the head-to-heads, the drama. Because you never know: somebody could false-start, somebody could cramp up, somebody could have the best day of their life. But at the same time, it will show all the other moments. Athletes not getting picked up to get to their press conferences. Taking buses that aren’t going the right way.”
Lyles considers himself to be the director of this mission, taking this narrative into his hands. “I feel like almost an artistic director. You have all these other athletes as stars, rock stars, popular wherever they go. Track and field needs to be the same. And I’m not gonna be happy until I see that accomplished.”
He hopes that these stories will attract new fans, viewers, sponsors, and more from all over the world. Lyles himself ventures beyond the track, including collaborations with artists and appearances at Paris Fashion Week, adding to his multifaceted persona.
Noah Lyles on the quest for Olympic glory
Yet as he gears up for the Olympics, his primary focus remains clear: winning gold.
In Paris, Lyles will compete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, and he’s actively lobbying for a spot on the 4x400m relay team. Currently, Lyles holds the title of the fastest man in the world, a distinction he earned by winning the sprint double at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Though Usain Bolt’s world records remain unbroken (for now), Lyles’ triumph in Budapest marked him as the first man since Bolt to secure a sprint triple at the World Championships. This achievement stands as a testament to his extraordinary potential.
With six world titles to his name and a bronze medal in the 200m from Tokyo 2020, Lyles aims not just to win but to dominate and to take home four gold medals and perhaps even surpass Bolt's legendary times.
Lyles will kick off his pursuit of Olympic gold on 3 August, beginning with the preliminary rounds of the 100m at the Stade de France.
The men's 100m final is set for 4 August, and the 200m final follows on 8 August.
As he steps on to the track, Lyles is not just racing for victory; he's racing to redefine his sport.