Sprint king Noah Lyles has opened up about the uncertain future of sprinting, as emerging talents like Australian teenager Gout Gout challenge the established order. The 28-year-old American, who won his fourth consecutive 200m world title in Tokyo, admitted: 'The future of sprinting is hazy right now. Nobody knows which direction to go in.'
Lyles, who has set his sights on surpassing Usain Bolt's record with a fifth world title in Beijing in 2027, revealed he has a clear plan for his retirement. He ruled out competing at the 2032 Brisbane Games, saying the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be his last. 'I have a strong blueprint of what I want my last year in the sport to look like,' he said, adding that his final season would include races in countries he has never visited and a concluding event at his own track meet.
Reflecting on his advancing years, Lyles joked: 'Uh oh, I'm getting up there, aren't I?' He noted that the 200m final in Tokyo featured him as the second oldest competitor, behind Britain's Zharnel Hughes. 'If I really push everything I want out of every year and month and week and day that I have, I don't think I'll ever regret any of the years,' he said.
Lyles also commented on the rise of Gout Gout, the 17-year-old Australian who became the youngest to compete in the 200m at the championships but failed to progress beyond the semi-finals. 'He's obviously so young, very talented, but there's so many people who have been talented in our sport that unfortunately haven't been able to hit that upper echelon,' Lyles said. He stressed that Gout's success would depend on his team and work ethic, adding: 'That's the hardest part about being such a young talent, you have to grow up so much faster than everybody else.'
Despite the challenges, Lyles remains focused on his own legacy. He acknowledged the pressure on young athletes like Gout, noting that once they sign contracts, they are no longer teenagers but businessmen. Lyles, a powerful marketing force in athletics, said his authentic self aligns with his showman persona, which is why he attracts both fans and critics.
