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The inside story of how a 300-page text book and two other things that made Noah Lyles Olympic champion.
In the highly anticipated men’s 100 meters final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Noah Lyles found himself trailing slightly at the 60-meter mark, sitting in third place behind Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and fellow American Fred Kerley.
However, this was exactly where Lyles needed to be. Known for his unmatched top-end speed and ability to close in on competitors, Lyles was poised to unleash his signature finish.
Lyles’ victory, clocked at 9.79 seconds, marked the fastest time in an Olympic 100m final since Usain Bolt’s 9.63 seconds in 2012.
This performance wasn’t just a display of raw talent but also the result of meticulous adjustments to his training regimen, particularly in the area of his block starts. Lyles’ ability to fine-tune his start was a crucial factor in his rise to Olympic glory.
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06:23 - 05.08.2024
Paris Olympics: Noah Lyles reveals words he whispered to Kishane Thompson after the men's 100m final
Noah Lyles has revealed the words he whispered to Kishane Thompson after they crossed the finish line in the men's 100m final at the Paris Olympics.
A lagging start
Lyles has always been renowned for his closing speed, reminiscent of Usain Bolt’s legendary finishes.
However, his start had been a persistent area of concern. In the past, Lyles struggled with the early phase of the race, particularly the first few steps out of the blocks.
His hips were too far back when setting, his foot turnover was slow, and his drive phase lacked the compact efficiency seen in elite starters. To compete at the highest level and secure Olympic gold, Lyles knew he needed to improve his start.
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11:04 - 05.08.2024
Noah Lyles’ girlfriend Junelle Bromfield risks wrath of Jamaicans as she chooses love over country
Jamaican fans were seemingly not happy to see Junelle Bromfield wish her boyfriend further success at the Olympics after his dramatic win over Kishane Thompson in the 100m final.
Ralph Mann and the Stickman
To address these issues, Lyles turned to Ralph Mann, a former Olympian and biomechanics expert who holds a PhD and has spent decades studying the mechanics of sprinting.
As reported by The Athletic, Mann’s expertise was instrumental in identifying the specific areas Lyles needed to work on. Using advanced software, Mann created a digital “stickman” model that overlaid Lyles’ movements in the blocks. This model, adjusted for Lyles’ body size and weight, demonstrated the optimal positions and movements for an elite start.
Through frame-by-frame analysis, Mann and Lyles identified several key areas for improvement. Lyles’ hips needed to be positioned further forward in the set position, his foot turnover had to be quicker, and his contact time with the ground needed to be reduced.
Mann emphasized the importance of keeping the feet low between steps and ensuring that the ankles remained rigid. White tape was placed across the track to give Lyles a visual target for where his feet should land during specific steps.
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09:04 - 05.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: Kishane Thompson explains what cost him a gold medal in men's 100m final
Disappointed Kishane Thompson has revealed what cost him a win in the men's 100m final at the Paris Olympics.
Trusting the process
Lyles fully embraced the technical approach, even challenging Mann to push the model beyond his current capabilities.
He knew that mastering the drive phase and improving his reaction time would be crucial in competitive scenarios, particularly in the high-pressure environment of the Olympics. Despite his natural talent, Lyles recognized that refining these small details could make the difference between silver and gold.
In early 2023, Lyles began to see the fruits of his labor. He finally managed to defeat Christian Coleman, the world record holder in the 60m, during the U.S. indoor championships, winning by just one hundredth of a second.
This victory was a significant milestone, as it demonstrated Lyles’ improved start and ability to compete with the best in the world over the shorter distance.
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06:45 - 05.08.2024
'They robbed Kishane'- Angry Jamaican fans react to Noah Lyles' triumph over Kishane Thompson at Paris Olympics
The fans took to their social media handles, with some claiming that Noah Lyles was not the rightful winner of the men's 100m final at the Paris Olympics.
Paris: Route to Olympic glory
Fast forward to Paris, and Mann’s prediction about the narrow margin between first and second place in the Olympic final proved accurate. Lyles’ start was still not the quickest—his reaction time was joint-slowest among the finalists—but his improvements in form and mechanics allowed him to stay in contention.
By the 60-meter mark, Lyles had closed the gap, and in the final 40 meters, his top-end speed and superior stride length carried him past his rivals.
Lyles covered the last 40 meters in 3.35 seconds, the fastest in the race, securing his place as Olympic champion. His ability to hold form and avoid deceleration, combined with the marginal gains he made in training, proved decisive.
In the end, Lyles’ journey to Olympic gold was a testament to the power of marginal gains. By addressing his weaknesses and committing to the process of improvement, Lyles transformed from a contender to a champion
. As he looks ahead to the 200 meters, Lyles has already demonstrated that even the smallest adjustments can lead to the greatest victories.
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12:48 - 04.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: Justin Gatlin explains what went wrong for Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100m final
Gatlin has revealed what went wrong for Sha'Carri Richardson as she lost to Saint Lucia's Julian Alfred in the final of the 100m race at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.
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