Noah Lyles has expressed his gratitude for the praise he has received from legendary runners Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt.
Lyles has enjoyed an excellent 2024 as he won 100m Olympic gold at Paris 2024 with a personal best of 9.784 seconds.
Lyles became an Olympic 100m gold medallist in ParisAFP
The 27-year-old sealed an incredible finish as he crossed the line just 0.005 seconds ahead of Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson.
Lyles then won bronze in the 200m two days after testing positive for COVID-19, so did not participate in the 4x100m or 4x400m relays.
Despite his prior success in Paris the Florida-born sprinter reportedly received criticism on social media, but nine-time Olympic gold medallist Lewis offered his support.
“I think the sport needs someone like him that’s a champion,” he said to Fox News Digital. “He’s the defending champion, the fastest man in the world right now, and we need someone to grab onto. I think he’s the perfect guy to do that, and I’m excited about that.
“I think track does better when we do have a superstar. That’s why I think if Noah were to win, he would elevate the sport as well. As opposed to saying, ‘I wonder who’s going to win’, people want to say, ‘I want him’, or, ‘I don’t want him’.
“They want to root for someone, or root against someone. I think it creates more intensity when you have someone that dominates, and that’s been throughout history… People have really gravitated to the sport when people really dominated more.”
And it wasn’t just Lyles’ fellow American who showed his backing, with 100m world record holder Bolt also offering such high praise.
When asked about Lewis’ comments in an recent interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, he said: “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.”
Bolt holds the record for the fastest ever 100m sprint, an incredible time of 9.58 seconds at the Berlin World Championships in 2009.
Lyles was unable to compete in the relays after testing positive for COVID-19AFP
Despite this, Lewis still believes he is a ‘superstar’Getty
Bolt also echoed the thoughts of his fellow Olympic legendGetty
The Jamaican, who many consider to be the greatest sprinter of all-time, also won eight Olympic gold medals from 2008 to 2016.
When speaking exclusively to talkSPORT ahead of Paris 2024, Bolt responded to Lyles’ ambition of winning four goal medals at the games.
“One thing I respect about Lyles is his confidence,” he said. “That’s the thing he has over most of these athletes.
“Last year, he wasn’t supposed to win the 100m, but he has the confidence that he’s going to win.
“The others guys are going in there fearing him. He’s not worried. He’s like, ‘I’m going to beat you’. But the other guys are worried.
“He’s good, but he’s not that good, at the level, yet. I think he will get better over the years. So the fact he is winning now is crazy.”
