Noah Lyles plans to become the new Usain Bolt as he targets 4 gold medals at Olympics
Noah Lyles, the American sprinter, is poised to potentially become the face of world athletics, following in the footsteps of the legendary Usain Bolt.
Since Bolt’s retirement, the sport has been seeking a successor to embody the charisma and talent required to captivate global audiences.
Bolt’s magnetic personality and unparalleled speed not only earned him numerous gold medals and world records but also elevated him to international celebrity status.
Lyles, who is being positioned as athletics’ frontman at the upcoming Paris Olympics, possesses the charisma and showmanship to fill Bolt’s shoes in terms of marketability.
While Lyles has demonstrated his prowess on the track with three gold medals at the 2023 World Championships, his Olympic record includes just a single bronze.
His personal best time in the 100m event is 9.83 seconds, which places him well down the all-time rankings compared to Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds.
To compensate for his track performance, Lyles is expanding his sprinting repertoire to include the 400m, aiming to secure a relay spot and potentially compete for four gold medals in Paris.
This ambitious goal sets him apart from even the legendary Bolt, who did not achieve such a feat in a single Olympics
For Lyles, that is expanding his sprinting repertoire to include the 400m, which will allow the 26-year-old a chance to grab a relay spot and a shot at four golds on the track in Paris (100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m), something not even the great Bolt managed.
Only a few athletes in history, including Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis, have secured four athletics gold medals at a single Olympics, with Florence Griffith Joyner coming closest in 1988.
Lyles’ pursuit of this rare achievement showcases his determination and willingness to push boundaries in his athletic career.
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