Noah Lyles Breaks Usain Bolt’s Record After London Diamond League Win

Noah Lyles celebrates after winning the London Diamond League on July 23. Photo by Paul Harding. Source: Getty Images

Noah Lyles pulled clear of Usain Bolt for the most wins under 20 seconds in 200-metre races

He won the London Diamond League on Sunday ahead of the World Athletics Championships

The American star also set the fastest time in 200m events this year to shatter his own record

Noah Lyles registered another brilliant run to win the London Diamond League on July 23. The American sprinter set a new World Lead in the 200-metres in a time of 19.47 seconds.

He broke his own record of 19.67 seconds that he set at the Kingston Grand Prix in May and is looking in fine shape to complete a double at the World Athletics Championships next month.

In London, he held off World U-20 Champion, Letsile Tebogo – who crossed the line at 19.50 seconds to set a new African record – as Zharnel Hughes set a new national record to complete a podium place at 19.73 seconds.

Lyles’ win saw him pull off clear of Bolt’s record for most wins under 20 seconds in 200m races. Before the race, the duo were tied at 34 each.

With the American only 26 years old, he could widen the gap over the Jamaican legend even further.

Lyles also set a new meet record, breaking Bolt’s standard of 19.76 seconds he set on the same course in 2008.

In the same event, Femke Bol ran the third-fastest time ever in the 400m hurdles race, with the Dutch star clocking 51.45 seconds to set herself behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s times of 50.68 and 51.41 seconds.

Five facts about Noah Lyles

Turning attention back to Lyles, the 26-year-old has already declared his intentions to attempt a double at the World Athletics Championships later this year.

He will be aiming to join Bolt (four times) and Allyson Felix (triumphs in 2005, 2007, and 2009) as the only athletes to win three consecutive gold medals in 200m.

The straight-talking American sprinter is often spicy in his interviews, calling it as he sees it. Sports Brief takes a look at some unknown facts about Lyles.

Sprint legend comments on Lyles

Sports Brief also reported on sprinting legend, Michael Johnson commenting on Lyles breaking Bolt’s record after the American’s victory at the London Diamond League.

The former athlete explained that the sport had been searching for ‘the next Bolt’, but Lyles was forging his own path as a sprinter and on a path to new world records.

Sports Brief