Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek’s path to the 200m final at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships was quite the story, filled with rivalry and determination. Lyles, the 200m world champion, stepped into the event with some pretty unique pressure. After his performance in the 100m final, where he finished third with a time of 9.89 seconds, he faced a lot of intense scrutiny from critics who were questioning his chances in the 200m. Teammate and rival Kenny Bednarek faced similar pressures. He was also in the 100m final, finishing in fourth.

Sure, the 100m isn’t really Bednarek’s thing, but honestly, this performance was something that caught a lot of people off guard. But as they approached the 200m, neither American showed any signs of wear from the 100m; Lyles and Bednarek both had impressive runs in their heats, finishing with times of 19.99 and 19.98, respectively. In the first semis, Bednarek quickly grabbed that final spot with a time of 19.88 seconds. But Lyles was a whole different story. He took off right from the beginning and totally owned the competition, clocking in a world-leading time of 19.51 seconds. So, since the benchmark was already set, it was finally time for the finals. And guess what? The Americans didn’t disappoint.

Noah Lyles pulled off an incredible win in the men’s 200m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, really solidifying his place as one of the all-time greats in sprinting. The American sprinter sprinted to a winning time of 19.52 seconds, just ahead of his fellow countryman Kenny Bednarek at 19.58 seconds, and Jamaica’s Bryan Levell who finished at 19.64 seconds in a really close race. Lyles just snagged his fourth straight world title in the 200m, tying Usain Bolt’s record from 2009 to 2015. Pretty impressive, right? Travis Miller shared on X: “NOAH LYLES AND KENNY BEDNAREK BOTH RUN 19.5s TO WIN GOLD AND SILVER IN THE 200M!!!” This really highlighted the skills of the two American athletes.

From lane six, he took off from the curve with his usual speed, catching up to his competitors and keeping his lead all the way to the finish line. He clocked in at 19.52 seconds, which was just a tad slower than his world-leading semifinal time of 19.51 seconds, but it was still enough to grab the gold and show that he knows how to perform at the right moment.

Even with a season full of injuries that kept him from getting ready, Lyles still showed off his signature speed and strong mindset, making him one of just two athletes, alongside Bolt, to snag four world titles in the 200m. Oh, and the American fans? Their reactions say it all!

Social media is flooded with nothing but cheers for Noah Lyles

Sprinting is a sport that both Americans and Jamaicans really take seriously. This rivalry has been around for quite a while, and with Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek clinching the top two spots at such a high level, American fans were absolutely thrilled about it. A fan pointed out, “America owned the podium, but respect to Levell Jamaica still refuses to leave sprinting conversations.” Bryan Levell’s bronze medal (19.64s) ensured Jamaica maintained its presence on the podium, continuing a legacy that includes legends like Usain Bolt. Jamaica’s sprinting prowess was further demonstrated elsewhere at the championships, such as hurdlers Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason winning silver and bronze in the 110m hurdles, and Shericka Jackson securing bronze in the women’s 200m.

This comment, directed at Lyles’s critics, said, “Yessir. Doubters silenced.” Similarly, another fan chimed in, saying, “Noah a hater worst nightmare.” Indeed, critics questioned his ability to retain his 200m title, especially against rising stars like Letsile Tebogo, who beat him last year in Paris. However, whatever transpired in Tokyo was quite different than last year.

Well, the American didn’t catch COVID-19 and was healthy to race. And with Tebogo’s performance that already took a dip this season as he dealt with injuries, it opened the door for others to step up for his competitors and make their mark. It’s surprising that even after Tebogo ran a 19.65, it still wasn’t enough to snag a medal. So, this fan really threw some shade at the critics, saying, “You’re an idiot if you thought he wasn’t gonna win.”

The competition was super close! But this comment is all about celebrating national pride, as it says, “AMERICA 1-2 PUNCH. NOAH LYLES IS HIM.” Noah Lyles’ win really cemented his legendary status in the 200m, as he joins an elite group of sprinters with his fourth straight world title. This win also sends a strong message to the doubters and shows just how resilient and top-notch the performance was.