Josephus Lyles, the younger brother of world-renowned sprinter Noah Lyles, has candidly spoken about the challenges he faced regarding guilt and comparison.
In a revealing interview, Josephus reflects on his struggles to find his own identity in athletics, particularly feeling overshadowed by his brother’s success.
At the 2019 World Championships, Josephus felt he had put in the necessary work to make the team, only for his brother, Noah, to be the only one from their family to qualify. During the trials, Josephus did not advance to the final of the 400m, finishing eighth in the semifinal. Meanwhile, Noah triumphed in the 200m at the trials, then went on to claim his first gold medal at the championships.
The 26-year-old Josephus admits he was torn between celebrating Noah’s achievement and feeling bad for not experiencing similar success. In time, however, he learned to accept that his life path was his own and that setbacks are a natural part of the journey.
He shared that it took him a while to stop comparing himself to Noah, as his brother’s constant achievements left Josephus questioning why he wasn’t experiencing the same success despite following the same rigorous training routines.
“I remember in the 2019 World Championships in Doha where I did not go… I was very devastated and I remember watching him on TV,” Josephus recalled. “That year, I think not making the team really flipped a switch in my head and I was like I don’t need to compare myself to other people.”
Josephus explained that growing up, he was always the quick learner, excelling both academically and athletically, while Noah faced more struggles, especially with traditional learning due to learning disabilities.
Josephus thought their paths would continue along these lines, but the reality changed when they turned professional. Noah quickly found success in his athletic career, which left Josephus grappling with his own progress.
“We have definitely had a lot of different journeys, and I think it’s interesting that my mum always says that when we were in school, I would always excel very well,” Josephus said. “I feel like while Noah had a harder time with traditional learning, he has some learning disabilities. However, in this season of our lives, it feels kind of the opposite.”
Despite the challenges, Josephus remains determined to carve his own path on the global stage, aiming to achieve similar recognition as his brother. At the 2024 US Olympic trials, Josephus failed to make the final in both the 100m and 200m events, while Noah continued to shine, winning both titles and claiming a 100m gold and 200m bronze at the Paris Olympic Games.
