Noah Lyles, once the undisputed king of sprinting, has found himself in uncharted territory in 2025. The reigning Olympic 100m champion, who just two years ago achieved a historic triple gold at the World Championships in the 100m, 200m, and 4×100m relay, is now sitting far outside the top 10 in the 100m rankings.
In 2024, Lyles carried his dominance to the Paris Olympics, winning the 100m in a lightning-fast 9.784 seconds. That performance solidified his place as the sport’s leading figure. However, the current season has been far less forgiving. The top spot now belongs to Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who clocked a world-leading 9.75 seconds, eclipsing Lyles’ Olympic record. Kenny Bednarek, traditionally stronger in the 200m, shocked many by running 9.79, cementing himself as a formidable contender in both sprint events.
The rest of the top 10 is stacked with fresh and familiar names: Bryan Levell and Courtney Lindsey at 9.82, Oblique Seville and T’Mars McCallum at 9.83, Trayvon Bromell and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu sharing 9.84, Christian Coleman at 9.86, and Ackeem Blake at 9.88. In stark contrast, Lyles sits at 35th in the 100m rankings, his position based on a modest performance from July 19.
Despite this setback, the American sprinter has shown flashes of brilliance in the 200m. On August 3, he clocked an impressive 19.63 seconds, edging out Bednarek by 0.04 seconds. That victory, however, came with drama — Lyles stared down his rival in the final stretch, a move that sparked visible tension. While the two shook hands post-race, Bednarek’s comments made it clear that the rivalry had intensified.
Bednarek later remarked that it wasn’t about words but respect, noting that he had beaten Lyles before and was confident he would do so again. This competitive edge has added extra heat to the upcoming Diamond League showdown in Lausanne on August 20.
For Lyles, the drop to 35th in the rankings is both a challenge and an opportunity. With his proven ability to rise to big occasions, the stage is set for a possible resurgence that could reignite his claim as the fastest man in the world. The sprinting world now waits to see if the Olympic champion can turn a disappointing season into one of the most thrilling comebacks in track history.
