Ever since Usain Bolt hung up his cleats, the track and field world has been on the lookout for a new look at the sport, and it might find it this weekend.
Noah Lyles is looking to win four gold medals. The American sprinter will compete in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relays, while his status in the 4x400m relay is up in the air (although he’s preparing for that).
One might think that seeing the same person winning all the time would get boring after a while. Bolt competed in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m three times from 2008 to 2016. (The 2008 4x100m team was eventually disqualified after Jamaican Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance.)
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Carl Lewis says track and field “needs” Noah Lyles to take over as the face of the sport. (Getty Images)
However, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, arguably the last American track and field athlete, said there was “no question” it would be “the best thing for the sport” if Lyles could win at least a few gold medals. OK” medal from Paris.
“I think the sport needs a champion like him. He’s the defending champion and the fastest man in the world right now and we need someone to catch him. I think he’s the perfect guy to do that and I’m excited about it. Little by little,” Lewis told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
“I think track and field does better when we do have a superstar. That’s why I think if Noah wins, he elevates the sport. People don’t want to say, ‘I wonder who’s going to win.’ , but rather want to say ‘I want him’ or ‘I don’t want him’. They want to support someone, or go against someone, and I think people are really attracted to the sport when someone is dominant.
Noah Lyles of the United States celebrates winning the silver medal during the men’s 60m final on day one of the 2024 World Indoor Athletics Championships at Emirates Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. (Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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Louis and Lyles teamed up with Ted in Paris, a dream partnership for the former long jumper because he “really gets dirty” during the competition. It’s also a way for the nine-time Olympic gold medalist to connect with ordinary people. To stay clean, “we have to do the simple things that everyone else has to do,” he said.
But he said running with Lyles was “a no-brainer.”
“When they contacted me and talked to me about doing something with Noah, it was very exciting. He’s an exciting young athlete and I’m a big fan of his… and it was a no-brainer. Soon, quick, quick, yes,” Lewis said.
He may be an expert, and deep down he may have some predictions about Lyles’ Olympic fate, but he’s not making it public.
“I never make a prediction and I’m going to keep my winning streak going because the next thing you know, they’re going to run to Noah and say, ‘Cal said you’re going to win today.’ So I’m not going to step in,” he joked .
Team USA’s Noah Lyles competes in the men’s 60m preliminaries on day one of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow on March 1, 2024 at Emirates Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Lyles will compete in Sunday afternoon’s 100m final, Thursday’s 200m final (his best event, aiming for a world record) and Friday’s 4x100m relay. And, just in case, the 4x400m race will be held on Saturday.
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