'He is more geeky? — GB sprinter Adam Gemili on why Olympic champion Noah Lyles' game is comparable to Usain Bolt

Paris Olympics pundit thinks Olympic 100m champion can live up to Usain Bolt’s legacy.

American track star Noah Lyles has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the best in the world as well as his larger-than-life personality. The charisma, the talent, the ability — there are certainly echoes to Lyles’ game comparable to Bolt who smashed the 100m record in 9.69 seconds at Beijing 2008 — a record he broke a year later in at 9.58 seconds.

Paris Olympic champion Noah Lyles explains the challenges of handling fame and battling mental issues at the same time.

When asked who could take Bolt’s mantle, Gemili told : «I’d say right now, that is the way it is going. Lyles is certainly the sprinter with the biggest personality and he does it in a very different way to Usain.»

Lyles who is a six-time world champion is known for playing mind games before the racem something that gives him advantage over his rivals according to Gemili.

«You can see that… I wanna say he is more geeky? Pulling out Yu-Gi-Oh cards during runs! «But then he loves it, and people love him for it. Because he is just himself whereas with Usain, a lot of athletes saw him and said, ‘this guy is cool.»

Hudson Smith improved his time every moment he was on track this year. Adjustment has been rapid and his 2024 deserves a pat on the back.

Lyles’ personal best of 19.31 seconds in the 200m is the American record, and makes him the third fastest of all-time. In the 200 m, Lyles is a three-time world champion (2019, 2022, 2023) and is the bronze medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.

He also won a gold medal in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Lyles completed a sprint treble by winning gold medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4×100-meter events at the 2023 World Championships.