Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles is already one of the most accomplished sprinters of his generation: the American record-holder in the 200 m with a best of 19.31 s, the Olympic 100 m gold medallist, and a multi-world-champion in the 100 m, 200 m and relay events. (Pulse Sports)

Yet Lyles openly acknowledges that he is not yet the greatest American sprinter of all time — and he has clearly defined the one thing he believes he still needs in order to credibly claim that honour. Here’s what he said — and what it means.

What he said

In an appearance on Speakeasy with Emmanuel Acho, Lyles stated:

“Not yet. I believe I still need one more gold medal.

In the 100, before I wanna say that I’ll be the greatest and I’ll tell you when LA comes and I finally do get those three gold medals, then I’ll say for sure that I am the greatest American sprinter.” (Sportskeeda)

Moreover he added:
“If it’s in the Olympics, it’s a definite; if it’s in the world championships, I still might have to fight a few people, but it would be a very hard argument for them.” (TVL Network)

Put simply: Lyles believes that one more Olympic gold in the 100 m (or a similarly clutch gold at the highest level) is required for him to step into the conversation as the greatest American sprinter ever.

Why this goal matters

1. The benchmark of Olympic gold
For track & field sprinters, the Olympic 100 m gold is seen as the gold standard.

Legends such as Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson built their legacies on Olympic dominance.

Lyles recognises that accumulating more gold medals, especially at the Olympics, is what separates good from “greatest”. (Pulse Sports)

2. The need for sustained dominance
Experts believe that it’s not just about one big moment but repeated success.

As former world-champion voices suggest, Lyles must “defend both medals… win that gold again in 2028… show sheer dominance”. (Pulse Sports)

Lyles’ own commitment to one more Olympic gold is part of that narrative of sustained excellence.

3. Putting aside comparisons
By setting his own goal — “one more gold, then I’ll say I’m the greatest American sprinter” — he is establishing the metric on which he will judge himself.

Rather than only comparing times or titles, he’s saying: once I hit this, I’ll make the claim. That clarity is powerful.

What it would take & the challenges ahead

– Timing & staying healthy
Winning Olympic gold in the 100 m isn’t easy. The field is stacked, and the margin for error is tiny.

Lyles must maintain top form through to the next Olympic cycle (e.g., the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics), avoid injury, and peak at the right moment.

– Defending titles
He already has major titles, but defending them and adding more will strengthen his case.

As analysts say, it’s not enough to win once — you must remain the best. (Pulse Sports)

– Breaking records / setting new standards
Lyles has the American record in the 200 m and is among the fastest ever. (Wikipedia)

But the “greatest” tag often also comes with world records or historic feats (like winning across multiple events or multiple Olympic golds).

Lyles has publicly said he wants to “leave the sport as the world’s fastest man forever” and set as many world records as he can. (Pulse Sports)

Why Lyles’ mindset is significant

• It shows humility and focus: He doesn’t claim the title yet, acknowledging there’s work to do.

• It clarifies his target: He knows exactly what it would take — one more gold — rather than vague aspirations.

• It resonates with younger athletes: Setting a tangible objective rather than vague hopes is a blueprint for success.

Final thought

Noah Lyles is already a sprinting superstar. But by his own admission, he isn’t yet the greatest American sprinter.

What he believes he needs is clear: capture one more Olympic gold in the 100 m, then defend titles, set records — and with that, he’ll stake his claim.

If he achieves that, his legacy won’t just be “very good” — it will be historic.