Olympic champion Noah Lyles says he’s ready to light up London Stadium with his trademark showmanship when he lines up in the 100m at the Diamond League meet on Saturday, 20 July.
The American sprinter, who dazzled at the 2023 World Championships with three gold medals, is aiming to deliver both a win and a spectacle in front of a sell-out 60,000-strong crowd at the venue that hosted the 2012 Olympics.
“It’s definitely my type of place,” Lyles said at a press conference on Friday, 19 July. “I love a big crowd and I like it even better when they’re engaged and want to be there. Being a showman, I want to give them something they can’t get just by watching on TV.”
Injury delay, but momentum building
Lyles has had a staggered start to the outdoor season due to a tendon injury in his ankle, but returned last weekend in Monaco with a commanding 19.88-second win in the 200m, edging Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo.
The London race will be his first 100m of the season at a major meet.
“I wouldn’t say I’m nervous, I’d say I’m more excited than anything,” said the 28-year-old. “I’ve been waiting to start my season. Injury delayed that, but things have been progressing extremely well. Every day I get faster. Now it’s time to test that against great competition.”
Having secured two automatic byes for the U.S. team at the World Championships in Tokyo this September, Lyles has been able to bypass the intense American trials, which he admitted lifted a huge burden.
“That took a lot of weight and pressure off us,” he said. “We’re not rushing. We’re building. And now we’re ready to go up against the best.”
Stacked field in London
Lyles will face off again against Tebogo in London, alongside a strong British contingent including world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, and world 100m bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes. Jamaican duo Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, as well as South Africa’s Akani Simbine, complete what is expected to be a high-quality field.
“I always want to win,” Lyles said. “Winning is the most important. Holding your own under pressure is what you want. A fast time never hurts either, I’d love to run 9.8. But the win is definitely more important.”
Tokyo ambitions already in focus
Looking ahead to the World Championships from 9 to 21 September in Tokyo, Lyles made no secret of his ambitions.
“Obviously, the goal is to win three gold medals again in Tokyo, like in Budapest,” he said, referencing his 2023 triumphs in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
“We treat every race as a chance to get better, to get faster. As long as we’re building toward making Tokyo our greatest moment and having fun along the way, that’s the real goal.”
