One of the biggest global stars in track and field, Noah Lyles is seeking to add to his 100-meter dash gold medal this week as he competes in two more events before the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Games.
The 27-year-old sprinter is notorious for being himself — speaking out, loud and proud, and never shying away from the spotlight. He wasn't always like that, however.
After winning the 100-meter race at the Stade de France, Lyles posted an inspiring message on social media. He wrote: "I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety and Depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!"
Lyles has been open about the obstacles he's faced throughout his career. Here's everything you need to know about his mental health journey, including how the USA sprinter overcame depression and anxiety on the way to an Olympic gold medal.
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Noah Lyles mental health
Since he began taking track seriously after watching the 2012 Olympics, the sport has been Lyles' refuge. When he was sprinting, he didn't have to worry about anything else.
That didn't mean it was always easy. After having struggled with asthma, bullying and learning difficulties because of his ADD and dyslexia at a young age, Lyles and his brother, Josephus, turned professional in 2016, forgoing collegiate careers.
Lyles began to struggle mentally before his first outdoor world championships in Doha in 2019. After living out of hotel rooms in Europe for some time during the season, he was growing homesick — even winning the 200m race at worlds that year didn't fully improve his mood.
Then, the pandemic hit and Lyles lost his "twinkle," his therapist told TIME. He struggled to talk, experiencing constant fatigue and difficulty breathing. He was depressed, and the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 only drove him into a deeper hole.
MORE: Best Noah Lyles 100m photos
Lyles began taking antidepressants that summer but ended up tapering them down before beginning his next track season. Feeling a bit better, Lyles qualified in the 200-meter race for the postponed 2021 Tokyo Olympics and entered the Games as the favorite for gold.
Unfortunately, Josephus did not qualify with him, nixing a dream the two brothers had. Without the crowd to rile him on and Josephus at his side, Lyles struggled in the 200-meter final and only captured bronze. It was immediately after this race that Lyles broke down publicly for the first time and expressed his struggles with mental health.
“I knew there was a lot of people out there like me who’s scared to say something or to even start that journey,” he said. “I want you to know that it’s OK to not feel good, and you can go out and talk to somebody professionally, or even get on medication, because this is a serious issue and you don’t want to wake up one day and just think, you know, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore.’
“This wasn’t even my dream,” Lyles continued as he sobbed to reporters after the race. “I just wanted to tag along because I loved my brother, and I wanted to do this together. And it’s taken us so far, and I feel like he should be here.”
Since then, Lyles has defied the odds and overcome his struggles, continuing to cement himself as one of the greatest American sprinters of all time — and one of the best in the world.
