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≡ THE NOAH LYLES SHOW ≡
“I feel great after that, I feel extremely healthy and I am feeling no pain. I wanted the win but I think it was my fastest-ever season opener, so I will take that result today.
“You are going to see Oblique [Seville] out there and just be like, ok, do not let it get to your head, just go and try and chase them, just reel them in little by little, just like any race. And then of course there is the moment when you cross the line and you are like, I did not get it this time.
“But the most important thing was not to panic, to make sure that I hit all the positions regardless.”
That was 2024 Olympic 100 m champion Noah Lyles of the U.S. following his second-place finish in the London Diamond League men’s 100 to Jamaica’s Seville, 9.85 to 10.00 (wind: -0.6 m/s).
It was Lyles’ first 100 m of the year, following up on his 19.88 200 m win at the Monaco Diamond league – over Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo (BOT) – on 11 July, almost three months after his only other outdoor race, a 45.87 lifetime best in a 400 m in April. In fact, Lyles hadn’t run a 100 since his Olympic win in Paris.
But it’s not close to Lyles’ best 100 m to open a season:
● 2017: 9.95w on 15 April in Clermont, Florida
● 2018: 9.86w on 13 April in Gainesville, Florida
● 2019: 10.16w on 20 April in Clermont, Florida
● 2020: 9.93w on 4 July in Monteverde, Florida
● 2021: 10.08 on 17 April in Gainesville, Florida
● 2022: 10.39 on 9 April in Devonshire (BER)
● 2023: 9.95 on 15 April in Gainesville, Florida
● 2024: 10.01 on 13 April in Gainesville, Florida
● 2025: 10.00 on 19 July in London (GBR)
What’s true is that this is Lyles’ best 100 m opener ever outside of Florida! And his second races have usually been faster than his first ones. But that’s in the future.
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Lyles has become a lightning rod in the track & field community, with ardent supporters of his high style and willingness to draw attention to himself, and harsh critics who complain even when he wins.
Former NCAA 100/200 m champion Joe Fahnbulleh, born in the U.S. but who has run for Liberia since 2021, is a friend of Lyles and defended him in an interview with British-based www.SportsBoom.co.uk, calling Lyles an athlete for the digital generation; an entertainer, a brand-builder, and a voice for track and field:
“People compare Usain Bolt to Noah Lyles in terms of charisma. Usain Bolt spoke with his time, good vibes, and being humble. That made the sport grow. And this day and age, when it comes to social media and the sport gaining more visibility and access, maybe the sport now needs someone like Noah to be out there, and wild. Noah has that.
“Of course, we have other athletes, but when it comes to the social media aspect of gaining clicks and views, Noah is doing it, and it’s bringing press. Good press, bad press, it is still press.”
Fahnbulleh also stressed there is more to Lyles than the bluster that draws so many reactions:
“Noah is a wonderful guy. He is a person you can easily talk to. The media paints a different picture of him, but he has his awesome sides. Off the track, Noah is a family guy, a wonderful guy, and a person who just loves to be around his friends. He always wants his friends to succeed.
“He works hard, trains hard, and what people do not understand, they try to put down. I can say he has his moments on track and off track.
“We have seen him try to promote track and field through his podcast, through events, etc. All round all, he is a good guy. If you get to meet him and know his story, and take off what the media says, you will see he is a wonderful guy.”
And Fahnbulleh emphasized that Lyles also understands – with clarity – the responsibility he has to those who come to see him run:
“No matter what the day is or what you are feeling, you have to get out there and get it done. People are paying for tickets to come see you run. Maybe you do not feel like practicing every day, but it does not matter. The stadium is packed, and I have to put up a show. …
“Usain was perfect for his time. And Noah is perfect for this one.”
Lyles is qualified for both the 100 and 200 m for the USA Track & Field National Championships in Eugene from 31 July-3 August, with declarations to compete due on Wednesday and Thursday, 23-24 July. As the 2023 World Champion in both events, he has a direct entry into the World Athletics Championships in both events, but has said he will run at the Nationals.
After all, the show must go on.
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