American sprinter Noah Lyles dominated the 100-metre sprint this year, winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. In a remarkably close final, he edged Jamaican Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second. This race was the most competitive Olympic final in the 100 meters, with all participants completing the distance in under 10 seconds.

Lyles, however, overcame not only his competitors but also significant personal challenges over the years. After his victory, he spoke openly about his struggles with health problems and shared his inspirational thoughts on X.

"I have asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!" Lyles wrote.

The sprinter admitted in an interview with TIME that struggling with asthma was particularly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic: "I could barely talk. I was so tired. All the time. Even thinking was a drain. It felt like you were almost in a constant asthma attack.

In his youth, Lyles also faced bullying at school, which he described as an "emotional beating that really breaks you." Despite these difficulties, Lyles didn't give up and continued his path to success. Before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in the 200-metre distance, he struggled with depression and used antidepressants.

Lyles won gold in the 100 meters, adding it to his bronze from Tokyo in the 200 meters. This victory marked the first time in 20 years that an American had won an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters. "It’s the one I wanted, it’s the hard battle, the amazing opponents, everybody was healthy and came to fight," Lyles said after his victory. His 9.79 seconds is a personal best, confirming his status as one of the fastest people in the world.

World Athletics Federation President Sebastian Coe described the 100-metre spring final as "close to perfection" and praised Lyles for his exceptional performance. "Well, if it's not perfect, it's about as close to perfect as you'll get," Coe said, comparing Lyles to Usain Bolt and noting that he is becoming the new face of athletics.

Noah Lyles does not intend to rest on his laurels. His gold medal in the 100-metre distance is just one of many goals he has set for himself. He wants to continue inspiring and supporting others, demonstrating that anyone can overcome their difficulties and succeed. "There’s plenty more. I hope you like Noah. I’ve got a lot more coming," he assured me after winning the gold medal.

Source: Metro, Time