Just how feasible is Noah Lyles’ triple-gold ambition in Paris?

Editor’s note: Last February, Noah Lyles told the assembled media that he would win three gold medals in Budapest. I remember looking at his face and noting in my diary that this guy totally believed in himself. I also noted that his coach, Lance Baumann, believed in this. 

After the 100m win in Budapest, Coach Baumann told me that the 100 meters was the toughest of the three. I became a total believer after watching Noah win the 200m and anchor the 4x100m, which were seamless (well, except for the cart accidents). Paris will be ferocious, but Noah Lyles feels he has been building for this his entire life. 

Deji Ogeyingbo reminds us just how tough this triple or quadruple will be, which makes it even more exciting! 

Just how feasible is Noah Lyles’ triple-gold ambition in Paris?

In the quest to find a sprinter who will carry track and field on their shoulders, you wouldn’t find many athletes willing to volunteer to play both the hero and villain. In a world where marketing and storytelling are key to shaping the narrative of the audience consuming your content, it has become a necessity for the global appeal of any sport to push forward an athlete(s) that resonates with all or two-thirds of the world. Noah Lyles is that guy for athletics. At least, he has been for the last two years.

The problem with being in the eye of the storm (which also comes with so many benefits) is fans of the sport invariably compare you to the previous dude who made everyone stand on their feet. How can you possibly match Usain Bolt? It’s almost an impossible task. Lyles has tried to carve a niche for himself on and off the track, but sometimes, he seems to be forcing it. The attention, but more importantly, the results are on track.

The latter part is key, considering that’s the main reason we are even talking about Lyles. You have to be a very good athlete—I dare say a generational one, too. Many believe that Lyles falls in that category. After all, he is a multiple world champion, the American record holder in the 200m, and the third fastest runner of the distance in history. These accolades prime him for being one of the greatest of all time in the sport.

After a blistering indoor season in which Lyles won three Silver medals, he now switches his attention to the outdoor season, and his first race was the 100m at the Tom Jones Invitational. He barely won the race in 10.01s, out dipping Kenny Bednarek by 0.005s….