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Noah Lyles Becomes the Fastest Man in the World after Winning Gold In Paris Olympics 2024

Last Updated: Aug 5, 2024, 18:58 IST

Noah Lyles, an American professional track and field sprinter, became the world’s fastest man by winning the men's 100-meter event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This 27-year-old athlete fell short of the world record by a mere 0.2 seconds, but his extraordinary speed solidified his place in history as one of the greatest sprinters of all time.

Noah Lyles, an American professional track and field sprinter, became the world’s fastest man by winning the men's 100-meter event at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Noah Lyles, an American professional track and field sprinter, became the world’s fastest man by winning the men's 100-meter event at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Noah Lyles has become the fastest man in the world by winning a gold medal in the 100-meter final event at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics. This two-time Olympic medallist has set a ground-breaking record by clocking in at an impressive time of 9.784 seconds, solidifying his status as a dominant force in the world of track and field. Lyles competed against a competitive field of world-class sprinters, which included names like Kishane Thompson and Fred Kerley, showcasing his incredible speed and skill on the track. 

Fastest Man in the World: Who is Noah Lyles and What are his personal bests?

Noah Lyles, a 27-year-old American professional track and field sprinter, has won two Olympic medals and six world championships. Born on July 18, 1997, Lyles primarily competes in 60-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter races and has won multiple gold medals at the World Championships and Diamond League events.

Known for his speed, agility, and charismatic personality, Lyles is considered one of the top sprinters in the world today. He has won a bronze medal in the 200 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and continues to impress fans with his impressive performances on the track.

On August 20, 2023, during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Lyles won the gold medal in the 100-meter race and achieved his personal best time of 9.83 seconds in the final.

On August 25, 2023, Lyles secured another gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships by winning the 200-meter men's final with a time of 19.52 seconds. This victory marked his third gold medal in the 200-meter race and his fifth overall gold medal at the World Athletics Championships. 

As a result, he surpassed Michael Johnson and Calvin Smith, both of whom had won two gold medals in the 200-meter race. Lyles now stands second on the all-time list at the World Athletics Championships, second only to Usain Bolt, who has won four gold medals.

Noah Lyles Stats

The following table shows his best performance in various sprinting events.

Event

Mark

Location

Date

100 m

9.79

Paris, France

August 4, 2024

150 m

14.41

Atlanta, GA, United States

May 18, 2024

200 m

19.31

Eugene, OR, United States

July 21, 2022

400 m

47.04

Forestville, MD, United States

April 23, 2016

4 × 100 m relay

37.10

Doha, Qatar

October 5, 2019

4 × 200 m relay

1:19.88

Nassau, Bahamas

April 23, 2017

60 m indoor

6.43 A

Albuquerque, NM, United States

February 17, 2024

200 m indoor

20.63

New York, NY, United States

March 13, 2016

300 m indoor

31.87 A

Albuquerque, NM, United States

March 4, 2017

High jump indoor

2.03 m

Blacksburg, VA, United States

January 31, 2015

H2: World’s Fastest Man Awards and Achievements

Lyles has broken the 20-second mark for 200 metres 37 times, more than any other athlete. The following table shows his performance at international competitions over the past five years.

Year

Competition

Venue

Position

Event

Time

2013

World Youth Championships

Donetsk, Ukraine

9th

200 m

21.58

2nd

Medley relay

1:50.14

2014

Youth Olympic Games

Nanjing, China

1st

200 m

20.80

2015

Pan American U20 Championships

Edmonton, Canada

2nd

100 m

10.18

1st

200 m

20.27

2016

World U20 Championships

Bydgoszcz, Poland

1st

100 m

10.17

1st

4 × 100 m relay

38.93

2017

World Relays

Nassau, Bahamas

2nd

4 × 200 m relay

1:19.88

2018

Continental Cup

Ostrava, Czech Republic

1st

100 m

10.01

1st

4 × 100 m relay

38.05

2019

World Relays

Yokohama, Japan

2nd

4 × 100 m relay

38.07

World Championships

Doha, Qatar

1st

200 m

19.83

1st

4 × 100 m relay

37.10

2021

Olympic Games

Tokyo, Japan

3rd

200 m

19.74

2022

World Championships

Eugene, OR, United States

1st

200 m

19.31

2nd

4 × 100 m relay

37.55

2023

World Championships

Budapest, Hungary

1st

100 m

9.83

1st

200 m

19.52

1st

4 × 100 m relay

37.38

2024

World Indoor Championships

Glasgow, United Kingdom

2nd

60 m

6.44

2nd

4 × 400 m relay

3:02.60

World Relays

Nassau, Bahamas

1st

4 × 100 m relay

37.40

Olympic Games

Paris, France

1st

100 m

9.79

Noah Lyles, 27, made a new personal best at the Paris Olympics 2024 by finishing his race within 9.79 seconds. Up until a review, it appeared as though Kishane Thompson of Jamaica had just beaten Lyles. The gap between the two men was 5,000ths of a second.

When asked what made the difference, NBC's Mike Tirico said it was the positioning of their clavicles that ultimately determined the winner. Lyles' slight edge in that area allowed him to secure the victory over Thompson. 

The current American and global 100-meter champion, Lyles, has won both the Olympic gold and the title of "World's Fastest Man." Lyles' win solidified his status as one of the top sprinters in the world, showcasing his exceptional speed and skill on the track.

Kriti Barua
Kriti Barua

Executive - Editorial

Kriti Barua is a skilled digital journalist and communications professional with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for the General Knowledge section at Jagran New Media. She has established herself as a subject matter expert in History, Geography, Trending National and International News, Sports, Science, and Defence, producing clear, reliable, and search-optimised content that connects with readers worldwide.
Kriti holds a BA degree from Delhi University and a one-year diploma in TV Production and Journalism, an academic background that adds research depth and strong storytelling instincts to her writing. Her experience spans brand writing, content marketing, and digital media, giving her a sharp understanding of what makes content both helpful to readers and visible in search.
At Jagran New Media, she applies this expertise to national and international news coverage, query-based articles, and in-depth pieces across her specialist subject areas. Her content is defined by easy language, factual accuracy, strong keyword strategy, and reader-friendly storytelling.

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First Published: Aug 5, 2024, 18:56 IST

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