Lyles responds on whether he can reach, surpass Usain Bolt's legacy
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 29.12.24. | 14:34
Bolt holds world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m
Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles has never shied from the spotlight.
Never one to downplay his accomplishments, Lyles embraces the spotlight, often speaking boldly about his victories.
Whether it’s celebrating his triple gold-medal haul at the World Championships or declaring himself the best in the business, Lyles has made it clear that humility takes a backseat when it comes to showcasing his achievements.
The sensational sprinter etched his name in history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing 100m gold with a personal best of 9.79 seconds and battling through COVID-19 to clinch bronze in the 200m with a time of 19.70 seconds.
Yet, even as he asserts his dominance in athletics, he acknowledges the towering legacy of Usain Bolt.
Speaking on an episode of his podcast Beyond the Records that featured YouTube megastar Mr.Beast, Lyles emphasized that the ‘world’s fastest man’ title remains to Bolt until someone breaks it.
Bolt holds world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m.
“I’m the world’s fastest man [currently], you get it with the title of being the Olympic champion. Technically, the world’s fastest man, and the fastest man alive, is Usain Bolt,” he said.
When asked if he could surpass Bolt’s legendary times, Lyles candidly admitted the challenge.
“I’m knocking on the door of the 200m [with my best of 19.31]. If it was that easy, I’d have done it five years ago. I’m the fastest American to ever live, so I have the American record, like Rai [Benjamin in the 400m hurdles], which is pretty cool. We’re just constantly getting closer to breaking world records,” he offered.
Lyles remains optimistic about his chances of reaching Bolt's benchmarks, pointing to advancements in sports technology and the extended peak years of today’s sprinters.
“They used to say it was around 30 [when a sprinter reaches their peak], but with technology now, it’s more like 35. But then you’ve got people like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce [who is 38 and still dominant]. I’ve just reached what they consider peak fitness. So 26 through 31/32 is what they consider to be the peak,” he said.
With the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032, Lyles has ample opportunities to chase history while building on his legacy.
Beyond his athletic prowess, Lyles has embraced his growing celebrity status.
From racing popular streamer IShowSpeed to engaging in a lighthearted feud with NFL star Tyreek Hill, the Florida native knows how to keep fans entertained.
Hill famously claimed he could beat Lyles in a race, sparking a war of words. Lyles now suggests their showdown could finally happen at the NFL’s 2025 Pro Bowl Games in February.
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