In 9.83 seconds, American Noah Lyles sprinted to gold with the fastest 100-meter of his life at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday -- less than a year from the Olympic Games in Paris.
The 26-year-old sprinter best known for two world titles in the 200-meter put on a show at the National Athletics Centre.
After just barely qualifying for the event with a third-place finish at U.S. nationals last month following a bout with COVID-19, Lyles was in top form Sunday when he sped from fifth at the halfway point to finish first, snatching the world title.
Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain, also first-time medalists in the 100, took home silver and bronze, respectively.
“I came here for three golds, ticked off one, others are coming. The 100m was the hardest one, it is out of the books. I will have fun with the event I love now", said @LylesNoah after the 100m final at the #WorldAthleticsChamps
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 20, 2023
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Lyles is nipping at the heels of all-time great Usain Bolt, who famously completed the 100-200 double at both the Olympics and world championships from 2008 to 2016 before he retired in 2017.
The Jamaican sprinter holds the current world record in the 100 at 9.58 seconds and the 200 at 19.19 seconds, both of which he set in 2009 at just 23. Lyles has vowed to break Bolt's record in the 200.
Lyles will be back on the track Wednesday to compete in the 200-meter heats. He will also compete in the 4x100 meter relay as he looks to win three gold medals.
