Triple world champion Noah Lyles wrapped up one of the most successful seasons of his career in 2024, highlighted by his first Olympic gold medal and multiple podium finishes both indoors and outdoors.
In a social media post, Lyles described the season as “joyful,” acknowledging the challenges he faced along the way. He kicked off his year with a strong performance at the USATF Indoor Championships, where he won the 60m, defeating rival Christian Coleman. He then earned his first medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, finishing second in the 60m final in Glasgow with a time of 6.44 seconds.
“Thank you 2024 Season. Oly 100 champion, Oly 200m bronze medalist, 2x World indoor silver medalist, 2x National champion, American recorded 150m,” he tweeted, celebrating his achievements.
Although Lyles is mainly recognized for his short sprinting prowess, he showcased his versatility by competing in the men’s 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, winning a second silver medal.
His indoor successes paved the way for a victorious outdoor season, culminating at the Paris 2024 Olympics. As he prepared for the Games, Lyles participated in three Grand Prix events—Bermuda GP, Racers GP, and NYC GP—to fine-tune his performance.
In Bermuda, he contributed to a gold medal win in the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Relays, marking his third significant medal of the year. Lyles entered Paris as a top contender in the sprints after dominating the U.S. Olympic Trials.
During the men’s 100m final, he delivered a standout performance, narrowly defeating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a dramatic photo finish to win his first Olympic gold with a time of 9.784 seconds.
However, his journey in the men’s 200m final was more complicated; he finished third with a time of 19.70 seconds. Shortly after, it was disclosed that he had tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the difficult choice to withdraw from the men’s 4x100m relay and conclude his Olympic run prematurely.
Taking to Instagram, Lyles expressed his gratitude and congratulated his fellow competitors: “First, I want to thank God for getting me through this entire Olympics! Second, I want to congratulate @tebogo_letsile_, @kenny_bednarek, and everyone else on an amazing Olympic 200m final. Finally, I want to thank everyone for the supportive messages. I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics. It is not the Olympic I dreamed of, but it has left me with so much joy in my heart.”
Despite the unexpected challenge, Lyles’ overall achievements in 2024 were remarkable. From his first World Indoor Championships medals to securing Olympic gold in the 100m, his resilience and performance under pressure shone throughout the season.
