By Milcah Tanimu

Usain Bolt’s retirement in 2017 left a significant void in the world of track and field, but it seems that a worthy successor has emerged in the form of Noah Lyles. The American sprinter, known for his enthusiasm and outspoken nature, has been a prominent figure in the sport for several years, and now he appears ready to take it to new heights.

Having signed with Adidas just before Bolt’s retirement, Lyles, now 26, has been a professional athlete for eight years. However, it was his recent accomplishments that have truly propelled him into the spotlight. Winning a remarkable 100m/200m double along with a gold as part of the US 4x100m relay team at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Lyles is poised to bring track and field back into the mainstream consciousness.

Expressing his ambitions, Lyles said, “I wanted to show I am different. I came out and showed it. I am double champion. Usain Bolt has done it, and him saying to me that he sees what I am doing and he respects it, it is amazing.”

Lyles, who became only the fifth sprinter to achieve a world sprint double, a feat last accomplished by Bolt in 2015, further stated, “I am ready to transcend the sport. I am the guy who wants to move past being track-famous. I want people to see me on the track, but in GQ and my docu-series, and realize I’m a cool guy too.”

He believes that winning medals is the first step toward achieving this goal, which would enable him to expand into various realms like fashion and music, collaborating with artists and making a broader impact on the world.

Lyles is not just stopping at the track; he’s making moves in the entertainment world too. He is being featured in an NBC Sports documentary and is set to appear in a Netflix series centered around the 100m, currently in production.

This strategy mirrors the successes seen with Formula One and tennis documentaries on Netflix, which managed to make these sports more captivating and accessible to a wider audience.

While Lyles appreciates the attention he’s receiving, he’s also vocal about the need for track and field to break into the mainstream. He emphasizes that the sport needs to be presented to the world and that there’s a much larger audience beyond its own bubble.

Lyles’ ultimate challenge now is maintaining his impressive performance into the upcoming Paris Olympics. He already secured a bronze medal in the 200m at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, but his aim is to continue winning medals to sustain his newfound attention.

Usain Bolt’s strength was his ability to dominate and secure multiple gold medals at global championships. Lyles seems to be following a similar path, having recently achieved a treble gold in Budapest. With his victories and charismatic presence, he’s gaining recognition as a rock star in the world of track and field.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe lauds Lyles and fellow athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, saying they are “absolute rock stars” and expressing excitement about the emerging talent in track and field.

Lyles’ ascent is a testament to the sport’s potential to evolve and thrive even after the departure of a legendary figure like Bolt.