Noah Lyles: I live for the biggest moments, the more eyes the better I perform
Noah Lyles ran a new 9.81 lifetime best Saturday afternoon at the London Diamond League meeting to lay down the marker ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The American was expected to deliver a statement win ahead of the Games and he did just that ahead of the African duo of Akani Simbine (9.86) and Letsile Tebogo (9.88).
The time moves the 27 year old to third on the world list this year behind Kishane Thompson (9.77) of Jamaica and Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya (9.79) and gives him the confidence to compete for his first individual Olympic title after winning bronze in the 200m in Tokyo three years ago.
‘A PB and getting faster before ahead of Paris. I wanted to dip under the 9.80 – I thought I was going to get a wind like everyone else. I know exactly where I am ahead of Paris. I knew we’d be getting more eyes on us, I’ve been waiting for this for six years!
‘I live for the biggest moments, the more eyes the better I perform. As soon as I get on the stage when the TV is on and people are watching, I perform. I’m very excited for the relay, we’ve all been together talking about the World Record but we’ve got to get those sticks around and we’ve got to get them around cleanly and that’s what we’ve been doing the most – communicating,’ Lyles said post race.
