Noah Lyles, the American three-time world champion, has taken a significant step towards achieving a historic feat at the Paris Olympics. He secured his place in the 200m final on Wednesday, keeping alive his ambition to become the first athlete since Usain Bolt to win the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the same Games. This would be a remarkable achievement, echoing Bolt’s dominance in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Lyles, who won the 100m by a mere five-thousandths of a second from Jamaican Kishane Thompson in 9.79 seconds, faced a psychological challenge in his 200m semi-final. He finished second behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who crossed the line in 19.96sec, while Lyles clocked 20.08sec. Tebogo, also a finalist in the 100m, demonstrated his growing prowess on the track.
The other American contender, Kenny Bednaraek, the second-fastest in the world this year over the distance, secured his place in the final with a time of 20.00sec in the first semi-final, edging out Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic. Erriyon Knighton of the US, a silver and bronze medallist over 200m at the past two world championships, qualified first from the third semi-final, clocking 20.09, ahead of Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh.
The two next-fastest qualifiers were Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba and compatriot Tapiwanashe Makarawu, a notable development that means defending Olympic champion Andre De Grasse, who has struggled for form this season, will not be competing in the final. This opens up the opportunity for a new name to be etched in Olympic history.
Lyles, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, has shown dominance in his preferred 200m, winning the past three world titles. He is the third-fastest half-lap runner in history, with his mark of 19.31sec set at the world championships in Oregon in 2022, ranking behind only Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and Bolt’s world record of 19.19sec.
Lyles’s impressive form makes him a standout candidate to be the star of the athletics program in Paris. He has the chance to create a legacy similar to Bolt’s, who accomplished the 100m-200m sprint double at three consecutive Games – Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016, further cementing his dominance by adding the 4x100m gold in London and Rio.
The first round of the sprint relay is scheduled for Thursday morning, but Lyles is likely to be rested following his 200m semi-final. All eyes will be on him as he continues his pursuit of a historic achievement in Paris.
