Noah Lyles: Triumph over adversity to olympic gold
Noah Lyles, the Olympic gold medallist in the 100 metres, shared a golden thought with his fans. Overcoming asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, he proves that health obstacles do not have to define our capabilities.
American sprinter Noah Lyles dominated the 100 meters, winning the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He defeated Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in an extraordinarily close final, winning by just five-thousandths of a second. It was the most competitive Olympic final in the 100 metres, and all participants ran the distance in under 10 seconds.
Noah Lyles opens up about his struggles with depression
However, Lyles not only defeated other sprinters, but he also overcame the difficulties he faced over the years. After his victory, he openly spoke about his struggles with health issues and shared his golden thoughts on platform X.
In an interview with TIME, the sprinter admitted that dealing with asthma was particularly tough during the COVID-19 pandemic: "Even thinking was a drain. It felt like you were almost in a constant asthma attack. You know there’s more room in your lungs, but you can’t physically use the muscles to actually take that breath."
In his youth, Lyles also had to confront bullying at school, which he described as "emotional whipping that breaks you down." Despite these difficulties, Lyles did not give up and continued his path to success. Before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, where he won a bronze medal in the 200 metres, he struggled with depression and used antidepressant medications.
Overcoming obstacles to become the fastest
Lyles won gold in the 100 metres, adding it to his Tokyo bronze in the 200 metres. It was the first time in 20 years that an American won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres. "This is what I wanted, this is a tough fight, these are incredible opponents," Lyles said after his victory. His time of 9.79 seconds is a personal record and shows that he is one of the fastest people in the world.
The President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, described the 100-metre final as "close to perfection" and praised Lyles for his exceptional performance. "Well, if it's not perfect, it's about as close to perfect as you'll get," Coe said. He also emphasised that Lyles is becoming the face of athletics, comparing him to Usain Bolt.
Noah Lyles does not intend to rest on his laurels. His gold medal in the 100 metres is just one of many goals he has set for himself. He wants to continue inspiring and supporting others, showing that everyone can overcome their difficulties and succeed. He assured after winning the gold that he has much more to do.
