Noah Lyles reveals behind-the-scenes struggle to topple Usain Bolt’s 200m world record

Noah Lyles has shared never-before-seen footage of his journey ahead of his attempt to break Usain Bolt’s 200m world record at the New York Grand Prix.

American sprint king Noah Lyles has shared never-before-seen footage from the night before his historic attempt to break Usain Bolt’s 200m world record at the New York Grand Prix.

In a new video titled The fastest man in the worldLyles opens up about the immense pressure he felt before the race, reflecting on his journey from the New York Grand Prix to his success at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 27-year-old sprinter, who won a gold medal in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m at the Paris Olympics, took fans behind the scenes of the short film.

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Lyles spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing his mental and physical preparation, focusing on his goal to etch his name in history by breaking Bolt’s 200m world record.

“To be honest, I’m just hoping it’s over quickly, because the longer the flight, the more my legs are going to hurt. So quick flights are always what we want.” Lyles mentions in the video.

Lyles has made no secret of his desire to break Bolt’s records.

Despite clocking 19.77 seconds to win the New York Grand Prix, Lyles fell short of his goal of breaking the world record of 19.19 set by the Jamaican legend.

Lyles, whose personal best is 19.31 seconds away from the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Ore., is undeterred.

“The world record is coming down tomorrow, all the signs are there, and the number, my name is ‘19.10’.” Lyles said confidently the night before the New York race.

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The video revealed the raw intensity and hope that Lyles carried as he visualized himself achieving what many thought was impossible.

Although Lyles was unable to break the world record that day, his determination did not waver.

He continued to cement his place in sprint history later that summer at the Paris Olympics.

His most notable achievement was in the 100m final, where he edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just 0.005 seconds in a nail-biting photo finish to claim the gold medal.

The victory was a monumental moment for Lyles, who became the first Olympic champion in the 100 meters.

Despite his impressive Olympic success, Lyles’ hunger for greatness remains unsatisfied.

In an interview with I’m an athleterevealed his unwavering belief that one day he will break both of Bolt’s 100m and 200m records.

“I had a dream that I’m going to run 9.41, and God has gifted me with the power of prophecy, so I know this will come true. I’m sorry, all the dreams I’ve had have come true.” Lyles shared.

“If God has given me, who am I to doubt?”

While Lyles is determined to make history, Bolt himself has offered both encouragement and a dose of reality.

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In the Netflix documentary Sprintthe sprinting icon acknowledged Lyles’ exceptional talent and mental strength, but also highlighted the challenges of achieving the feat.

“Noah Lyles is a great athlete. He’s full of energy, mentally he’s very strong. He believes in himself, but if he breaks the world record, I won’t be happy. Records are meant to be broken. I wish him all the best, but it won’t be easy.”