Usain Bolt Has No Faith in Noah Lyles & His Plans, Makes Strong Admission Involving Justin Gatlin

In the intense realm of elite sprinting, the rivalries and predictions amp up the drama, both on and off the track. Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion and a longtime rival of Usain Bolt, believes that American sprinter Noah Lyles has what it takes to eventually break Bolt’s incredible world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 seconds in the 200 meters. So, this story has kind of been getting attention since last year’s Paris Olympics. That’s where Lyles snagged his first Olympic gold medal in the 100m, just edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a tiny margin of five-thousandths of a second.

Unfortunately, he faced some health issues that kept him from performing at his best in the 200m, and he ended up in third place. It’s pretty interesting to see Gatlin backing Lyles, especially since they’ve both been in the mix trying to take on Bolt’s reign. Remember when Lyles said in 2023 that he was aiming for times of 9.65 and 19.10? He confidently stated, “I have a good reason to believe I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.” Gatlin’s endorsement has sparked a pretty sharp and dismissive reaction from Bolt, bringing back that intense rivalry that marked their competitive days.

According to Runner’s World España, Usain Bolt mentioned, “Noah Lyles is as crazy as Justin Gatlin for thinking he can beat my records.” The Jamaican track legend shared that, although there’s plenty of talent out there, he doesn’t think any athlete today can beat his records. It’s a feeling he’s had ever since he retired in 2017.

It’s interesting to note that Bolt’s dismissal is supported by the reality that only Yohan Blake has come close to those records, clocking in at 9.69 for the 100m and 19.26 for the 200m, while Lyles’ personal bests sit at 9.79 and 19.31, respectively. But, you know, this isn’t the first time he’s brushed off those speculations.

Bolt’s doubts come from more than just competition; they highlight the huge physiological and technical hurdles that are part of the game. He mentioned that Lyles is “a different type of athlete than me,” hinting that the way the American runs and his abilities might not match what’s needed to pull off those historic achievements.

Also, Usain Bolt pointed out how consistent his performances were and how current sprinters haven’t made much progress. He mentioned that even with the new spike technology—like Puma claiming he could have run 9.42 seconds with today’s shoes—the records are still standing strong. Meanwhile, Gatlin’s support for Lyles appears increasingly isolated, especially as Lyles has faced recent setbacks.

Just like Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin is unsure about Noah Lyles’ performance

Justin Gatlin spoke about Noah Lyles’s recent races, like his loss to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in the rain at a meet in Lausanne, suggesting that Lyles might not be at his best anymore. Gatlin pointed out that competitors like Seville, Kishane Thompson, and Letsile Tebogo are catching up, and he even went as far as to say that he thinks Kenny Bednarek will take the 200 meters in Tokyo, with Lyles coming in second because he feels Lyles might not be as race-ready or quick right now.

The 2004 Olympic champion’s skepticism ramps up the psychological pressure and adds some interesting twists to the story as Lyles gets ready to defend his titles. Lyles has already clocked an impressive world-leading time of 19.63 in the 200m at the US Trials and matched a record with his fifth national title.

Now, he’s up against tough competitors and some skepticism from a well-respected figure in the sport. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds for the American sprinter, especially since he’s definitely a fan favorite going into the World Athletics Championships.