Noah Lyles revealed how he developed a zeal to win more medals after stepping into the post–Usain Bolt era. The American sprinter defended his 200m and 4x100m relay titles at the 2025 World Championships. Lyles won his fourth consecutive half-lap title in the 2025 Worlds, becoming only the second man after Bolt to achieve the four-peat.
Noah Lyles on Why He is Motivated to Win More Than One Medal
Lyles became the fastest man in the World after his 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay wins at the 2023 World Championships. He was unstoppable on the track, entering the Paris Olympics as the heavy favorite for both 100m and 200m gold podiums. He won the 100m, just five thousandths (0.005) of a second ahead of Kishane Thompson in the French capital and took the 200m bronze, having run with ill health.
This year, it took him until July to find his footing after suffering back-to-back losses to one of the rising stars, Oblique Seville. Lyles demonstrated his dominance again at the 2025 Worlds in pursuit of transforming the sport.
In a recent interview with CNBC-TV18, the Olympian shared his motivation to win more than one medal in the post-Bolt era, emphasizing that carving his own path and writing his own history were essential to surviving in a sport that quickly takes the limelight away from those who are not at their best. She said:
“I’d say that again, it’s all about your reasoning. Mine was again transforming the sport. Knowing that one medal isn’t enough, especially when you are coming right after the Bolt era. So yeah, you got to make your own mark. You got to make your own journey. You got to carve your own path and constantly pushing forward, knowing that just because you got the first one doesn’t mean anything. You know the human attention span is very short.”
Bolt still holds the world records for the 100m and 200m, with many athletes still chasing his times.
Lyles Shared that His Close Circle Keeps Him Grounded
Competing at the highest level often takes a toll on the athletes’ mental health, and Lyles is no exception. He has usually made headlines and continues to do so, frequently drawing backlash for his performances, controversial comments, and other issues.
In a media conversation in December, he credited his close circle for keeping him level-headed and for calling him out when he was being erratic. He also stated that no other opinions from the outsiders bother him.
Lyles was the international ambassador for the 2025 Bajaj Pune Marathon in India. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica was also a part of the event, promoting inclusivity and inspiring participants.
