Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles has admitted that a late, injury-disrupted start to his 2025 season has tested his confidence, even as he managed to beat Kenny Bednarek in the men’s 200m final at the US Championships.
The triple world champion’s season began in a stop-start fashion, kicking off with appearances at the RADD Sports College Invitational and the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. He transitioned to outdoor races at the Tom Jones Memorial, only to suffer an injury setback that sidelined him for three weeks, disrupting his momentum at a crucial phase of the season.
After recovery, Lyles returned to competition at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco, where he clinched victory in the 200m. He followed that up with a second-place finish in the 100m in London. Recently, he competed in the heats of both the 100m and 200m before triumphing in the 200m final, where he edged past Kenny Bednarek in a dramatic finish.
Reflecting on the season so far, Lyles opened up about the mental and physical toll the delayed start has taken. He admitted that it has been a real test of his self-belief and resilience. “It’s testing my confidence for sure,” Lyles said. “It’s throwing myself into the fire every time and hoping… well, not hoping, but believing that things will click.”
Despite the challenges, Lyles remains optimistic, revealing that his training sessions have shown promising signs. According to him, there’s often a three-week lag between progress seen in practice and performance on the track, and he’s holding onto that timeline as he looks to peak at the right moment.
He acknowledged that while his win over Bednarek was important, it still didn’t reflect the level of sharpness and speed he’s been displaying in training. “It’s still not even close to what we’ve seen in practice,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for more competitive races to regain peak form.
Now preparing for the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia on August 16, Lyles is focused on building race sharpness ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo, where he will be a key contender in both the 100m and 200m events.
