SAINT-DENIS, France — Eight of the fastest men in the world stood ready at the starting line. The time between athlete introductions and the gunshot felt as long as a Super Bowl halftime show. With tension mounting throughout the Stade de France, the gun went off, and in just 9.79 seconds, Noah Lyles proved he’s the fastest man on the planet.
“Everybody on the field came out knowing they could win this race. That’s the mindset we have to have,” Lyles shared after his Olympic 100-meter final victory. “Iron sharpens iron. When I saw my name at the top, I knew I had done it not just against any crowd but the best of the best, on the biggest stage, with the utmost pressure.”
“I wasn’t in the 100-meter race in 2021. This was my first Olympics in the 100 meters. Now, I hold the title not just at world championships but at the Olympics: the world’s fastest man.”
Lyles isn’t just about speed; he’s also mentally strong and full of confidence.
With painted nails, pearls around his neck or woven into his hair, and bold declarations, Lyles embraces who he is. He’s the best showman track and field has seen since Usain Bolt.
He talks the talk and walks the walk.
“It feels good to back it up. I’ve worked hard over the last three years since 2021, and even during that year. I took on numerous sponsors to get my name out there. I’ve seen many athletes come in as favorites, and sometimes it doesn’t work out for them,” he admitted. “Knowing it can happen keeps pushing me. I always go the extra mile because anyone could surprise us. People said it would be a slow year in the 100 meters. It wasn’t a slow year.”
Lyles told USA TODAY Sports that earning only a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics “ignited a fire” within him. He struggled with depression leading up to the Tokyo Games. He’s since kept multiple therapists and openly discusses how therapy helps him. He spoke to one of his therapists before the final.
“My therapist said, ‘You need to let go, be yourself.’ That was the energy I needed,” Lyles revealed.
Understanding this advice, Lyles went out and delivered. Since earning bronze in Tokyo, he’s won four world championship golds. Now, he’s an Olympic gold medalist for the first time and the fastest man in the world.
“I Told You America I Got This,” Lyles posted on social media after his victory.
Yes, Noah, you told us. And you delivered. We can expect a similar outcome when you line up for the 200 meters in Paris.
