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Who Is Noah Lyles, the Team USA Sprinter Who Won the 100-Meter Dash at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Noah Lyles has won gold in the men's 100-meter at the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to qualify in the event at the Tokyo Games.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, one World Champion American sprinter has proved he’s faster than all the rest.
Noah Lyles won gold in a thrilling men's 100-meter dash in Paris, beating Jamaica's Kishane Thompson in a photo finish.
Lyles’ gold medal win comes after a hugely successful year for the sprinter, who has found himself chasing records set by track icon Usain Bolt and rubbing elbows with rap legend Snoop Dogg.
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Where is Noah Lyles from?
Lyles, 26, was born in Gainesville, Florida to parents Kevin Lyles and Keisha Caine, according to NBCOlympics.com.
Although his roots can be traced back to Florida, Lyles grew up primarily in Alexandria, Virginia, where he attended T.C. Williams High School.
He made the decision to go pro, signing a deal with Adidas, after high school.
What events does Noah Lyles compete in?
Lyles is known for his prowess in the 200-meter event, but has obviously proved he’s a threat in the 100-meter sprint as well.
"I'd say from this week, I'm pretty confident [in the 100]," Lyles told ESPN after his victory in the 100-meter at the U.S. track and field trials in June. "Every time I did a block start, there wasn't a lot of thinking. It was kind of just doing. It was a lot closer to how I feel in the 200, which is what I've been waiting to feel for a very long time now. And every time I get that feeling, it makes the race that much more confident."
In addition to the individual events, Lyles has competed in the 4x100m relay and has declared his intention to race the 4x400 relay in Paris.
Noah Lyles Wins Men's 100m at the Paris Olympics
Entering the men's 100m in Paris, Lyles' main competition for gold appeared to be Kishane Thompson from Jamaica. The showdown didn't disappoint, with Thompson getting off to a great start in the race, but Lyles finishing strong to take home the gold. In the race's immediate aftermath, it wasn't clear who won, so officials had to consult the high-speed camera shots. Lyles just barely edged out Thompson, with fellow American Fred Kerley finishing in third. An overjoyed Lyles ripped off his name tag, thrusting it up in the air as he ran victoriously around the track before finding his family and sharing an emotional moment with them.
Noah Lyles's Other Medals and Records
Although he failed to qualify to compete in the 100m event at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Lyles took home the bronze in the 200m.
By any standard, the medal signifies his undeniable talent, but to Lyles—who continues to strive to be his best—it serves as a reminder to work even harder until he reaches the top.
"I think by not liking it, it gives me the fire to keep going and keep pressing," he told USA Today. "Every time I'm like, 'Yeah, I think I'm doing enough,' I'll turn around and look at that medal and I'm like, 'Alright, back to work!'"
Lyles has won six world titles during his career, including three titles earned during an impressive display at the 2023 World Championship in Budapest. At the recent world championship, Lyles took home the gold for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m—a feat that hasn’t been achieved since Bolt won the same sprint treble in 2015, according to the bio on Olympics.com.
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Lyles has long admired the track legend and told Olympics.com he hopes to one day overtake Bolt’s record in the 200m, noting that the “sky’s the limit” for his lofty goals.
“The first hundred, I just need to be faster,” he said.. “I already have what I need at the end of the race but if I can make the first part faster, then it will make the second part faster.”
Noah Lyles' Friendship with Snoop Dogg
Lyles impressive track record has also earned him some famous friends. The 26-year-old bonded with rap legend Snoop Dogg during the Olympic Trials.
USA Track & Field posted a hilarious video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that showed Lyles, dressed to the nines in a custom made suit, walking into the trials with Snoop, who was carrying a briefcase containing Lyles track uniform.
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NBC announced in January that Snoop Dogg will be a special correspondent during the Paris Olympics, offering his own unique blend of commentary and interacting with the athletes.
The musician was on hand during the U.S. track and field trials and even spent time with Lyles’ mom during a qualifying round for 100m finals, according to Sporting News.
For Lyles, the trials were a chance to prove he had what it took to win the 100m final, despite falling short in the qualifying rounds for the Tokyo Olympics.
This time around, everything fell perfectly into place and Lyles walked away with first place honors by pulling ahead in the second half of the race.
"When I got to the final, it was like we are not only gonna win from the 60 (meter point), we're gonna keep going. Let's see what we do from that point," Lyles said, according to USA Today. "Every step I took, it felt correct and I felt well in my positions. We got to the acceleration phase and my hips came through and I didn't feel like I had to press very hard. I felt like my knees were going straight into the track. They were directly underneath me. Every step I took felt more powerful than the last. So I'm like, 'I got this race.'"
When he isn’t on the track, Lyles has been a vocal proponent of mental health, openly talking about his own mental health struggles and the value therapy has had in his life.
“In our family, that’s our way of communicating,” he explained to Olympics.com. “We’re very outspoken, very verbal with our emotions … and I guess that’s just how my mom brought us up. I’ve been in therapy since I was probably 9 years old, so this is not foreign to me.”
Originally published Jun 24, 2024.
