Noah Lyles secured victory in the 100-meter world championship on Sunday with a time of 9.83 seconds, a triumph that not only reshuffled the Olympic deck for next year but also solidified his position as the world’s top sprinter.
This unexpected win may have surprised many, considering Lyles, primarily a 200-meter specialist, barely qualified for the shorter race after recovering from a battle with COVID in the lead-up to the U.S. nationals last month. Despite doubts raised by defending champion Fred Kerley regarding Lyles’ claim of a potential 9.65-second run, Kerley failed to advance past the semifinals, and Lyles faced stiff competition from Letsile Tebogo, a 20-year-old from Botswana, who finished just .001 ahead of Britain’s Zharnel Hughes in 9.873.
Starting from Lane 6, Lyles overcame a mediocre start and found himself in fourth place halfway through the race. However, he surged ahead of his competitors on the left and crossed the finish line. Christian Coleman, the 2019 champion, was the first to congratulate him.
Upon seeing his name atop the scoreboard, Lyles shouted into the on-screen camera: “They said it couldn’t be done. They said I wasn’t the one. But thank God I am!”
Outside of a few dissenters like Kerley, the track world seems to agree that Lyles may be the sport’s biggest star since Usain Bolt retired in 2017. Lyles, who turned pro just as Bolt was leaving the scene, has become known not only for his athletic prowess but also for his outspokenness about mental health challenges, particularly in the post-COVID era of the Tokyo Olympics.
In his ongoing efforts to bring more attention to the sport, Lyles recently signed a deal for a Netflix series that provides a behind-the-scenes look at his training. He has also shared his ambitious goals on Instagram, including a desire to achieve a 9.65-second run in the 100 and to break Bolt’s record with a 19.10 time in the 200. The final for the 200 is scheduled for Friday night.