American sprinter Noah Lyles achieved a remarkable feat by winning the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters at the Paris Olympics, a victory underscored by his journey of mental health recovery. His triumph came after a crucial phone call with his therapist following a challenging semi-final, which set the stage for his exceptional performance.
Lyles secured the gold with a time of 9.79 seconds, narrowly defeating his competitors by a mere five-thousandths of a second. The final was highly competitive, with Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville finishing last with a time of 9.91 seconds. In a historic moment, this final marked the first time that eight men broke the 10-second barrier in a wind-legal 100 meters race.
Reflecting on his semi-final experience, where Seville had outrun him, Lyles admitted, “I wouldn’t say nervous – I’d say I was extremely curious as to what was going to happen. That’s how me and my therapist phrase it. I’m curious as to what I’m going to do, how am I going to pull this off.” Lyles noted that entering the final as the third-fastest from the semi-finals heightened the stakes. “This is going to be serious, this is not going to be easy,” he remarked.
Ahead of the final, Lyles discussed the advice his therapist provided: “You need to let go, you need to relax, and you need to be yourself.” This guidance proved instrumental in helping him overcome the pressure of the moment and deliver a performance for the ages.
Lyles’s journey to Olympic glory has not been easy. He has been open about the mental health struggles he faced in recent years, including a period of depression that followed his failure to qualify for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials in 2021. “I did this against the best of the best, on the biggest stage, with the biggest pressure,” he reflected. “And I wasn’t even entered in the 100 in 2021. You know, here I am, first Olympics in the 100, going around now the Olympic champion.”
His victory in Paris not only highlights his sprinting prowess but also underscores the importance of mental health in sports. Lyles’s commitment to rebuilding himself—both physically and mentally—has been key to his success.
Looking ahead, Lyles aims to make history by competing in the 200 meters, where he hopes to achieve a rare Olympic sprint double. The opening rounds for the 200m event are scheduled for Monday, adding another layer of excitement to his Olympic journey.
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