Noah Lyles, the dominant force in men’s sprinting, has been breaking records and earning accolades on the global stage. However, behind his confident, fierce competitiveness lies a story of personal struggle and growth. As he continues to reign supreme in the 200m event, Lyles recently opened up about the challenges he faced in his early years that shaped the confident athlete he is today.
Throughout much of his childhood, Lyles struggled with issues that made him feel anything but confident. He battled asthma, which often made breathing difficult and added to his vulnerability. School was another hurdle, as Lyles faced difficulties with learning disabilities, including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and dyslexia. These challenges affected his academic performance and left him with a sense of insecurity that would follow him into his teenage years.
“It’s just, you know, never followed me, I was either trying to just breathe with asthma or going from homeschool to regular school and realizing I got ADD and dyslexia, making school harder,” Lyles reflected on his early struggles.
It wasn’t until after high school that Lyles began to find his footing in athletics. As he started competing at higher levels, he gradually began to embrace his own talents. Over time, his experience with overcoming personal obstacles transformed into the fuel for his unwavering confidence on the track.
Today, Lyles is known for his unshakable self-belief. However, he admits that this confidence often gets misinterpreted. “It’s probably uh me being co**y because in reality, it’s me just having confidence. It’s just y’all don’t understand the things that I’ve had to go through to be at this point to know why I’m so confident,” he explained.
Lyles’ ability to translate the challenges of his past into strengths on the track has been a key factor in his success. Despite his fiery persona on the track, he notes that those who meet him in real life are often surprised to find that he is humble and down-to-earth. “They’re like, ‘Oh, wow. This man is actually super down-to-earth,’” he shared, reflecting on how public perception doesn’t always match the reality of who he is.
For Lyles, the confidence that drives his sprinting dominance is not just about natural talent. It’s rooted in years of overcoming obstacles, both physical and mental. His journey from self-doubt to self-belief serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of embracing one’s struggles as a source of strength.
