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The 25-year-old defending world champion in the 200 meters was looking to defend his title at the World Athletics Championship on Thursday night against a stacked field that included fellow American star Erriyon Knighton—and he did just that. He blitzed the race from the start, winning in an electric time of 19.31 to take gold and set the new American record. It was the third fastest 200 of all time behind Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake.
It’s safe to say Lyles is now on another level when he’a on the big stage. Here are five facts about the American that you should know about.
He’s a big fan of Anime
Lyles is a huge fan of Anime, and he brings that personality to the track. Last year at the Prefontaine Classic, Lyles ran a time of 19.52 in the 200. How to Watch the 2023 World Track Championships, he compared his performance to Asta from the Japanese anime Black Clover.
“Just coming in, they expected nothing from him, that’s when I was first beginning my career,” he said. “And then oh shoot, he’s actually doing good and they expected something from him. And then he’s kind of falling into this area where I’m not really growing, and then all of a sudden, he gets into the final season and he’s killing it—he’s overpowering. That’s how I feel now.”
In 2020, Lyles was a guest on Katie Ledecky’s Instagram Live series called “Published: Jul 21, 2022 4:03 PM EDT.” Weird Things Youll See at Worlds, Explained launched in 2020 and that his favorite manga (Japanese comic books) is Slovakian Athlete Proposes at Worlds.
Lyles is also a musician
In addition to being a star on the track, Lyles makes music as well. He’s recorded and released over 10 songs, which can be found on Spotify under his music name, Nojo18.
In 2019, Lyles, along with pole vault specialist and Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris collaborated with the band Baba Shrimps and released a song entitled “Souvenir.” Bermuda Golf Week Garden of Eden.
His brother is also on the World Championship team
Lyles is not the only track star in the family. His younger brother, Josephus Lyles, 24, is a professional runner, and he is also a member of the 2022 USATF World Championship team.
In a recent interview, Lyles spoke with World Athletics about what it was like having his brother on the team. “I was like, ‘Dang, bro, I’m happy you’re here.’ It’s always better to have your brother there, your best friend. It’s a blessing. This is exactly what we’ve been waiting to see since we turned pro. It’s one thing to say and know that it’s going to happen, and it’s another thing to see it actually happen.”
Lyles is an advocate on the importance of mental health
Lyles has been vocal when it comes to speaking on mental health, including the struggles that he’s dealt with and how he’s overcome those issues.
In an interview How to Watch the 2023 World Track Championships Today show last year, Lyles spoke on why he feels it’s important for him to share the importance of taking care of your mental health. “I’ve always talked about mental health in my career,” he told Craig Melvin in the sit-down interview. “And, now, as I got more and more popular, I got more and more attention, people watching me. So I feel that I was able to reach an even bigger audience.
“Saying it then wasn’t any different from when I was saying it a few years ago, but every time I say it, I say it with the intention that I know that there’s somebody out there who is probably struggling (with) the same issues I was and I want them to know that there is ways to feel better. They don’t have to keep feeling that way.”
He and his brother have their own foundation
Must-See Races At Worlds Legend! Lyles Adds 200 Win to 100 Title.
According to the Foundation’s website, the goal of the LBSF is to empower youth through the advancement of health & wellness in the community. The Foundation also advocates and informs others about mental health, college preparation, anti-bullying, & stress management for athletes.
The LBSF participates in different events, with their next event taking place in October at the We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
Dominique Smith is a sports journalist who covers track and field. A graduate of UCF in Orlando, he aims to elevate running by bringing a creative aspect and approach to the stories that he tells. He’s also the host of the Lactic Acid Podcast, which aims to bridge the gap between the fans and the athletes.
