Sprint big mouth Lyles delivers and celebrates, "I'm incredible"
The 100-meter sprint is the main event at the Olympics. No other competition garners as much global attention as the duel of the fastest men. And in Paris, the protagonists do not disappoint - quite the contrary.
The spectacle is already dramatic. Suddenly, the Stade de France goes dark, and only small, swaying lights on the spectator stands provide a little light. Then, a laser and tech show kicks off. The DJ makes the giant stadium tremble. It's the final minutes before the start of the 100 meters. The world's fastest man is sought. The successor to Italian sensation and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs is sought. The defending champion is present but barely made it to the final. He's not a candidate for gold, for another upset. But who is the favorite?
Noah Lyles, the world champion? Of course. Kishane Thompson, the fastest of the year? Certainly. Fred Kerley, the man who's lightning-fast over 100, 200, and 400 meters? Always. The list goes on. But, small spoiler, the three mentioned win the medals. In the listed order. But what a drama this final is! Thompson and Kerley start well, Lyles not so much. Halfway through the race, he's clearly behind the medal contenders. Thompson is on track for gold, but then Lyles starts to fly. He passes one after another until he crosses the finish line simultaneously with Jamaican Thompson.
Who is it now? No one knows. Everyone stares at the scoreboard. Lyles suspects he might not be it. "I went to Kishane and said, 'I want to be honest, brother, I think you won.' I was prepared for his name to appear, and when I saw mine, I thought, 'Wow, that's incredible. I'm incredible. That's what I wanted, this tough fight against incredibly strong opponents,'" said Lyles: "I'm the wolf among the wolves." And perhaps the chosen one to become the new face of athletics. The role is vacant without legend Usain Bolt. Lyles has charm, courage, a knack for quips, fast legs, and a story Americans love: humble beginnings, learning difficulties, bullying, then depression, and becoming a hero. With four golds?
Primal scream, rubber ball, anger
Lyles is a showman, a big mouth, a highly sensitive soul. He doesn't hide his feelings or his struggle with depression. Before the final, he talks to his therapist on the phone. "She said, 'You have to let go, you have to let it flow.' And I said, 'Okay, I'll trust you.'"
The tension before the start is immense. For example, American Kenneth Bednarek runs too fast out of the tunnel during the presentation. He's called back. He's not happy about it, coming out again with an annoyed look. It's a grand spectacle, and the protagonists use the stage for themselves. Sometimes, it seems more important to show off than to win a medal. Thompson lets out a thunderous primal scream, Lyles sprints like a lion, runs almost half the track, jumps wildly. As cool as the men want to be, they're incredibly nervous. They're in the spotlight of the global audience, racehorses just waiting to be let loose. But it's not that simple. The preparation is long, very long. Lyles expresses his displeasure with gestures, the colleagues are also not happy about the long waiting time.
The Shot, Then the Sprint, Then the Drama. In the end, there are two 9.79 seconds, a super time. But there's no double gold. Five hundredths of a second make the difference. In Olympic history, there's never been a closer finish. After 20 years, the Sprint Nation, USA, is back on top, where it always wants to be. But it took a long time to find its place, because Jamaicans, because Usain Bolt dominated. Now Lyles has delivered. He delivered what he promised. Already at the opening ceremony, he streamed from a boat on the Seine and greeted as the "fastest man in the world." He put himself under pressure. And he wants more. He's "100 percent" sure he'll also win gold over the 200 meters. "When I come out of the curve, they'll get depressed." Meanwhile, the third-place finisher, Fred Kerley, the man without a smile, had long joked to him: "You talking shit, man?"
The Drama of Tokyo Changed Him
Probably not. Already last year, when he won three gold medals at the World Championships, he announced that a new dynasty was beginning. Before his triumph last year at the home World Championships, he had once again come from a very deep valley. It was a story that Americans love so much. A hero with a heavy break in his resume. In the past two years (and some months), a lot has happened to him: first the pandemic, then the postponement of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and finally the Black Lives Matter movement. It went beyond the limits of endurance, and beyond. The sensitive sprinter struggled more with himself than with his competitors.
In the summer of 2024, forget Lyles, he's at the top and wants to stay there. He made peace with the games. Three years ago in Tokyo, he suffered from the ghostly corona atmosphere. He needs the stage, the loudness, the push. Over his showcase distance, the 200 meters, he only won bronze. "That's not enough," Lyles swore afterward. The depression came back. He focused even more, worked even harder, always looking for new ways to improve even more.
Now the impressive resurrection. He's the star of a Netflix series, a advertising figure. Rapper Snoop Dogg came to watch the Olympic final. "The more eyes on me, the better I am," said the 27-year-old - and then he actually kept his word.
In this exciting context, the winner of the 100-meter sprint at the Olympics is crowned, adding to the legacy of past champions. The Olympic Games once again prove to be a stage for drama, determination, and unexpected twists.
Following his remarkable performance, Noah Lyles reflects on his journey, expressing gratitude for the tough competition and the privilege of being among the world's best athletes.
