Outspoken Noah Lyles Doesn’t Hold Back From Detailing “Mentally Drained” Experience at the Bahamas Relays

Cheers erupted when Noah Lyles confirmed his ticket for the Paris Olympics by winning the 4x100M at the 2024 World Athletics Relays. Despite doubts swirling around the USATF relay team, Lyles and his squad silenced critics with a triumphant first-place finish in the Bahamas.

However, post-victory, Lyles’s subdued demeanor left fans puzzled as they failed to feel the excitement of the win from the GOAT post the race. To answer this, Lyles – who won gold at last year’s world championships in Budapest – took to his social media to shed light on the matter. On May 7th, the 26-year-old shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, offering a transparent explanation.

In his message, Lyles expressed regret for not matching the vibrant energy of the event, attributing it to feeling emotionally and mentally drained. He elaborated on the challenges he faced, particularly the lack of boundaries at the warm-up track, where he struggled to focus amidst the constant stream of people.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Bahamas for hosting such a successful meet. The atmosphere was incredibly lively and inviting. However, I apologize for not reciprocating that energy, as I was dealing with emotional and mental exhaustion. This track meet posed challenges not only in the race itself but also due to the lack of boundaries at the warm-up track,” Lyles wrote in his post.

Continuing the sentiment, the legend added, “There were so many people who would try to interact with me during my race preparations and while practicing. Management, athletes, and even coaches I could not find time to dial into the competition. The saddest part about this is it left me so drained that I had no energy after my race to approach fans with a smile and give them the energy I normally give. I might be the first to speak on how this affects athletes but I know I’m not the only athlete that had this happen to them. I hope to see you all at the next track well rested and with tons of new energy.”

In taking this step, Lyles highlighted a crucial issue within the sport, potentially paving the way for positive changes in athlete welfare.

more to come…