Noah Lyles Almost Beat This Bolt Record

^{July 18, 2025 | Edition #157}

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

28 years of speed, unfiltered takes, and a bold personality! Tomorrow is Noah Lyles’ 100m season debut at the London Diamond League, but today, it’s time for celebration as it’s the American star’s birthday. And that surely calls for a special edition!

While Lyles continues to chase Usain Bolt’s world records, he did take over a mark from Bolt in 2023, and story 1 is all about that historic moment. But his grand life also contains a dark past that not many know about… While you read that in story 2, there are some interesting facts about his life that we bet you didn’t know all about. So hop on!

🌟 Track Stories

Noah Took Over Bolt’s Record After 8 Years!

When Noah Lyles arrived in Budapest for the 2023 Worlds, it's not like no one knew him. After all, he already had 5 global medals. But the minute he became the 100m world champion in 9.83s, and the 200m world champion in 19.52s, in the Hungarian capital, he became the fifth-ever athlete to have a sprint double at the World Championships. Watch the moment Noah entered history books! However, what he did on the sixth day entered him into a rare club with 'The Usain Bolt.' Let's set the scene…

Brandon Carnes passed the baton in the 4×100m, and Lyles took off like a man on a mission. As the clock stopped at 37.38, the commentator declared, "He promised three, he’s delivered three.” Yup, Lyles completed his first-ever sprint treble....For the first time ever, he stepped into Usain Bolt's shoes!

It came exactly 8 years after Usain Bolt completed his 3rd sprint treble at the National Stadium, Beijing, at the World Championships. But do you know the kind of relationship the two share? They met briefly in 2017. A year later, Lyles had already made his intentions clear: he respected Bolt, but refused to put him on a pedestal because he said, “I’m coming for his records.” In 2023, the two crossed paths again in Jamaica!

Bolt told him, “Keep your same attitude….we need a personality.” Little did he know, the same year, Lyles was coming for his world record, publicly stating, "I know I’m going to break it.”....To date, Lyles and Bolt have a relationship that’s a mix of respect, ambition, and occasional jabs! Like over the “World’s Fastest Man” title…

While Bolt owns the all-time tag, Lyles is the current holder. To dethrone Bolt, Lyles must shave 0.21s off his 100m and 0.12s off his 200m times. And with Worlds around the corner, Lyles might just have the chance he has been waiting for! After all, he deserves to shine after all that he has faced….

The Future of Hearing Aids Is Here

What happens when you combine German engineering with the world’s most trusted name in hearing care? The biggest breakthrough in hearing technology in more than a decade. Introducing the Horizon IX hearing aid. Join 540,000+ people hearing better than ever. Find out if you qualify for a 45-day no-risk trial!

Experience the clarity!

😔 His Struggles

Noah Lyles Thrived With 6 Medical Conditions!

Noah Lyles’ journey has been full of rough patches…As a kid, he battled severe asthma attacks every six weeks. So bad that he couldn't even hold his breath long enough to chew a bite! The first ten years of his life were the toughest…

His breathing issues worsened, and he couldn’t even sleep lying down. Every night, his mom, Keisha Caine Bishop, held him upright. He studied from home while fighting off constant coughing fits! Noah even had to get his tonsils and adenoids removed. His asthma began to improve only after 2016. But other difficulties followed…

In 2020, Lyles opened up on X about taking antidepressants. He stopped a few months before the 2021 Olympic trials. “Mentally, getting on and off the antidepressants, it was really hard,” he later said. Fewer competitions due to the pandemic had taken a toll on his mental health. Thus, just before flying to Tokyo, he broke down! Even through the chaos, watch below how Lyles pulled off the shocker at the Tokyo Olympics.

However, that wasn't the end! In 2024, the world saw Lyles' struggle up close. During the 200m Olympic final in Paris, Lyles sprinted hard but collapsed right after, struggling to breathe. He had to be taken away in a wheelchair. Later, the world found out he had raced with COVID-19. Despite everything, he won bronze in the 19.70s. A few days later, Noah revealed he has 6 medical conditions: "I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and depression."

Noah refused to let those conditions define him! He now speaks openly about therapy and encourages others to speak as well. Also, to cope, he turned to some of his passions that you’ll know about in the next story!

Watch: Noah Lyles’ Unforgettable 100m Olympic Gold Moment!

📰 Top Stories of Today

🤯 The ESPYs announcer under trouble for disrespecting Gabby Thomas - Full Story 

💌 Find out how Noah Lyles’ fiancée wished him - Full Story

🤔 Tara’s harsh words forced Alexis Ohanian to make a big move - Full Story

😔 Ruth’s doping suspension to affect women’s distance running - Full Story

😮 NYC is about to witness history after 13 years! - Full Story

See what else is trending in the world of track & field - Click Here

🎖️ Beyond The Medals

Noah Lyles’ Off-Track Moves!

Everybody knows Noah Lyles, not just for his medals, but for his raw, bold, unapologetic energy, both on and off the track! Lyles owns a unique space in the public eye, and he has built it on his own terms. Fans love him, and every time he makes a move, he brings more eyes to the sport. And there’s no way you haven’t heard this one!

In 2023, after Team USA basketball failed to medal at the FIBA World Cup, Lyles said what many wouldn’t dare: "You know what hurts me the most? I have to watch the NBA Finals, and they have ‘world champion’ on their head. World champion of what? The United States?" NBA stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Draymond Green were enraged. But Noah stood by his stance. Classic Noah! Well, one thing you might not know…

In 2020, under the name Nojo18, he released his first full-length album, A Human’s Journey. By 2021, he was performing live, even teaming up with Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris at the Diamond League finals in Zurich. Yes, watch how Noah Lyles broke his character live! But his creativity isn’t limited to music! From anime to gaming, Lyles does what he loves…

At the 2019 U.S. Outdoor Championships, Lyles dyed his hair silver to look like Goku from Dragon Ball Z and even pulled off the Kamehameha pose after winning a 100m gold at the Paris Olympics. In 2024, during the Olympic Trials, he whipped out a Yu-Gi-Oh card before the race. Watch Lyles’ dramatic act here! These moments go viral, and every time, Lyles brings the spotlight back to track. Then, there’s fashion…

From pearls in his hair to painted nails, his track look is always bold. He’s shown up at the Met Gala more than once. He’s even walked the ramp at the 2023 Milan Fashion Week and the 2024 New York Fashion Week. On top of it, from his Twitter banter with Tyreek Hill to sprint challenges with YouTube sensation IShowSpeed, Lyles keeps the buzz around track and field alive like no one else....

Watch: The Noah Lyles Vs IShowSpeed Sprint Challenge!

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Last Poll Result: We asked you, “Letsile Tebogo Has Been Showing Up for All Events, & That Hasn’t Been Entirely Fruitful for Him. Do You Think He Should Take a Break and Train for Worlds Directly?” We’ve got a clear verdict — nearly 58% of you said, “Yes.” But tomorrow, Letsile Tebogo returns for the 100m at the London Diamond League… and that race might just settle the debate!

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

💌 FEEDBACK