Noah Lyles has been candid about the need for self-confidence and 'narcisism' in athletics, something Rai Benjamin agrees with.
American 400m hurdles Olympic champion Rai Benjamin has come to the defense of Noah Lyles, standing by the reigning 100m Olympic champion amidst criticism of his self-confidence and flamboyant personality.
Lyles, known for his bold antics both on and off the track, has often drawn mixed reactions, with some labeling his demeanor as "cocky" or "arrogant."
Fred Kerley and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo are among the athletes who have publicly voiced their disapproval of Lyles' approach. After winning gold in the 200 meters at the Paris Olympics, Tebogo, known for his calm and reserved persona, distanced himself from Lyles’ high-energy style.
“For me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah,” Tebogo remarked when asked about his aspirations to lead track and field athletics.
Similarly, Fred Kerley didn’t hold back in his criticism of Lyles on the Netflix docuseries Sprint, saying, “Noah’s cocky, arrogant, and all that sh*t.”
Lyles, however, has consistently defended his personality and actions, explaining how his confidence stems from overcoming significant challenges in his life.
“The line between confidence and cocky is so blurred, and it’s all an opinion,” Lyles said in a past press conference. “But if you’ve looked at my life and seen what I’ve had to go through, I’ve literally been told, ‘You can’t do’ most of my life. But here I am every day saying, ‘I’m going to do it anyway.’”
He added, “I’ve achieved almost everything I’ve set my mind to. It’s gaining confidence each step of the way, and I can understand why some people can’t see the vision I have. But don’t disapprove of my vision just because I want to go after it. In these big moments, I thrive—this is what I’ve prayed for.”
Rai Benjamin has now weighed in on the debate, firmly siding with Lyles and highlighting the necessity of unwavering self-belief in track and field.
“I always tell people that in track and field, you have to have an unhealthy amount of self-confidence and a sense of narcissism in order to be good,” Benjamin explained on the Beyond the Records podcast. “Especially in the 100. If you do not have those tendencies, you are not going to be successful.”
Benjamin also referenced Lyles’ electrifying presence before the 100m final in Paris, saying, “When Noah came out of that stadium and he jumped around, and they started cheering … you know it’s done, just give him the medal now.”