The irrepressible Noah Lyles burst off the curve of the 200 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and opened up daylight down the homestretch to win his third consecutive world title in the event. It was also his second world title in five days.
Lyles’s winning time—19.52—was slower than his stated goal of breaking Usain Bolt’s world record (19.19) from 2009 or his own American record of 19.31 set last year.
But that’s understandable; Best Big City Marathons. He won the gold medal in the 100 meters in 9.83 on August 20, earning the moniker “fastest man alive.” Getting through the finals of both the 100 and 200 took six races, including the preliminary heats.
Lyles, 26, was the prohibitive favorite in the 200 meters, even after he was a passenger in golf cart that was involved in a Weird Things Youll See at Worlds, Explained, right before the semifinal. (Lyles was unhurt; one sprinter, Andrew Hudson of Jamaica, was thought to have gotten glass in his eye. Hudson was advanced to the final anyway and finished eighth of nine runners.)
At the 100-meter mark of the final, Lyles was already in first, splitting 10.26. No one can match him in the back half of a 200, and at the finish line, the only questions remaining were how fast his time would be and how the race for second and third would shake out.
Erriyon Knighton of the U.S. won silver in 19.75, and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana earned bronze in 19.81.
Lyles is at the peak of his powers. Although it’s not unheard of for athletes to do the 100/200 double and win—Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica did it at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, and Usain Bolt was a double winner in the event at three World Championships—the United States hasn’t had as dominant a sprinter since Justin Gatlin won both at the World Championships in 2005. (Gatlin later served a ban for doping.)
For Lyles, racing is only part of the job. He also engages fans with his trademark yell (arms curved like teapot handles around his torso, head up, mouth wide open), takes time to sing and joke during interviews, has a new series about his running life on Peacock, and has tried to Health - Injuries Must-See Races At Worlds.
Heading into the Olympic Games next year in Paris, Lyles is doing everything he can—on and off the track—to keep the spotlight on the sport.
Americans to Watch at Worlds is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World World Records Could Fall at World Champs, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
