Noah Lyles on how support from Usain Bolt & Carl Lewis keeps him going

Triple world champion has opened up about how it feels when the likes of legendary athletes Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis laud his impact on the sport.

Most people refer to as being too loud and cocky but he explained that having the back of double world record holder Bolt and nine-time Olympic champion Lewis helps him move forward and become what the sport needs.

The three-time world 200m champion told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he wants to change the sport and in 10 years, he wants to see track and field marketed to the fullest. He compared track and field to the likes of basketball which are well marketed in the media.

American sprinter Twanisha Terry believes that NFL player Tyreek Hill is no match for Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles as talks over a race between the two gains traction.

He explained that track and field is always focused on winning and accumulating medals but once an athlete retires, people tend to forget about them.

“It’s very nice to hear. Bolt told me the same thing. It’s nice to not have everyone criticize you constantly and call you cocky and arrogant. I’m always going to talk about marketing. I’m also going to say it’s not always just about the performances, you have to do more than just perform,” Noah Lyles said.

“You look at a lot of other sports and they’re doing media, they’re doing press conferences, they’re doing meet-and-greets and all the extra pieces like magazine covers and photoshoots. I feel that our sport is so focused on the win, we haven’t gotten the idea of the other pieces to help us grow and interact with the world.”

This season has seen athletes run crazy times in the men's 200m and threaten Usain Bolt's 19.19 seconds 200m world record.

The reigning Olympic 100m champion was forced to end his season earlier than expected due to testing positive for COVID-19. At the Paris Olympic Games, claimed the men’s 100m title and then proceeded to win a bronze in the men’s 200m after being diagnosed with COVID.

He added that he could not afford to miss the 200m since he could have suffered from the guilt of not knowing how he would perform. He added that it would also be an inspiration to the young runners that whatever they are going through, they can always show up and make an impact.

“If I look back now I would have always said ‘what if.’ I would have always thought about ‘why didn’t I try,’ or ‘why didn’t I fight harder,’ because it was hard or because I was scared. People say once you get sick you have an excuse. I don’t want an excuse,” Noah Lyles said.

Noah Lyles’ girlfriend Junelle Bromfield has detailed how athletics took her out of poverty with the thought of going back fueling her desire to become successful in sports.

“I want to be able to put my best foot forward. Maybe there’s going to be someone out there who also catches COVID-19 at the Olympics and they’re going to think it’s over. But because they saw my story they decided to fight through this. And maybe they’ll be better than me and get gold.”