Each time the Olympic Games come around, the world anticipates who will become the next record holder in a particular sport. In the men’s 100-meter race, Noah Lyles snatched the gold medal on Aug. 4, 2024, per NBC New York.
Born in Gainesville, FL, Lyles was raised and spent most of his developmental years in Alexandria, VA. According to a Team USA profile, his athletic interest began with gymnastics. However, at age 12, he developed an affinity for track and field, eventually leading him to Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. He followed in the footsteps of parents Kevin Lyles and Keisha Caine Bishop, who both graduated from the university in 1995.
A Lyles Family Tradition
Kevin Lyles was a Seton Hall record holder, once known as the most decorated track and field athlete in Big East Conference history based on an Asbury Park Press report. His athletic prowess led him to be elected to the university’s Hall of Fame in 2020. Although his dad set a great example on the track, Lyles received just as much inspiration from his mother.
Bishop also graduated from Seton Hall and was a 2018 inductee into the school’s Hall of Fame. During her time there, she was a nine-time All-American and a member of the NCAA championship relay team.
Noah Lyles Sets Records
Lyles has been competing at the 2024 Olympics, but it’s not his first time on Team USA. According to his Olympics profile, the 27-year-old has captured six world titles throughout his career, including three at the 2023 World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, where he won gold in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter events. Despite these accomplishments, Lyles has even higher hopes for himself.
“I’ve always known that I’m the fastest man in the world,” he stated after a win in Budapest, per his Olympics profile. “Well, in my head, I think I’m going to break it [Usain Bolt’s 100-meter and 200-meter world records]. I’m planning to break it.”
According to ESPN, Lyles won a gold medal in the highly competitive 100-meter trial for the 2024 Olympics. He later returned for Round 1 of the men’s 200-meter race, finishing first. This qualifying race secured him a spot in the semifinals, marking an undefeated record for him in the 200-meter race since 2022.
Earning Medals And Building His Net Worth
Lyles may be known for running at impressive speeds, but he’s leveraged that talent to secure endorsement and brand deals. Based on his Instagram profile, Lyles is an official athletic partner for Celsius and adidas. After winning his gold medal, Lyles indicated his plans and next step with the shoe brand — his own signature sneaker.
“I want my own shoe. I want a sneaker… Ain’t no money in spikes,” he told reporters via Sportico.
He also has a special on Peacock, “Untitled: The Noah Lyles Project,” about his journey to overtake Bolt’s 200-meter world record.
Lyles’ brand work and current deals have led him to an estimated net worth of $5 million, per Marca.
