At the 2017 World Championships, the world’s fastest man bid farewell to track and field, closing his legendary career with a bronze medal. For nearly a decade, Usain Bolt carried the Jamaican flag high at sprinting’s biggest stages, ensuring no rival could dethrone the island nation. But when he stepped away, surrendering his crown, the Jamaican ship seemed to have holes. By the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, not a single Jamaican sprinter reached the men’s 100m final, a shock that even Bolt lamented: “I‘m just disappointed because I think we do have the talent, it’s just to harvest it and people to take the training seriously and get it done.” The Paris Games offered no redemption either. But now, times have changed, Jamaica’s sprinting fire is flickering back to life, with Oblique Seville, Kishane Thompson, and Bryan Levell now leading the charge.

Remember that iconic moment from the 2012 London Olympics when Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Warren Weir pulled off a Jamaican clean sweep in the men’s 200m, Bolt with gold, Blake with silver, and Weir with bronze? Those were golden days. Well, Jamaica just relived that magic at the Tokyo World Championships. Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville stormed to gold and silver in the 100m, clocking 9.77 and 9.82 seconds, while Bryan Levell capped it off with a bronze in the 200m, ending the nation’s medal drought in the event and reviving memories of that legendary London sweep.

How, you may ask? The last time Jamaica savored 200m glory on the global stage was at the Rio 2016 Olympics, when the legendary Usain Bolt blazed to gold—a year before hanging up his spikes. That’s why Levell’s feat is monumental, and Bolt himself made sure not to miss a moment, taking to X to applaud the young sprinter: “Congrats Bryan Levell🥉At just 21 years old, future bright.” From having a medal drought for years to securing multiple medals, it was quite a journey for the Jamaican team.

So, if Levell took the bronze, who grabbed the gold? Brace yourself, Noah Lyles staged a heroic comeback to storm the 200m in 19.52 seconds, leaving the track and field world stunned. Just days after settling for 100m bronze behind his Jamaican rivals, Lyles wrote his redemption story in golden ink, becoming only the second man after Usain Bolt to capture four straight world titles in the event. And now that he has equaled Bolt, he is looking to go past him.

“I can’t wait for 2027,” said Noah Lyles as he bites his 200m gold medal

After his 100m disappointment, Noah Lyles came for redemption with his sights locked on gold. But the finale was anything but smooth; his sluggish start left him fifth as the field hit the straight. Just when it seemed doomed, the American unleashed a burst of nitro down the home stretch, storming past rivals to edge out compatriot Kenneth Bednarek, who once again settled for silver, with Bryan Levell close behind.

While having a conversation with the media, the new champion stated that he is looking to break Usain Bolt’s record, “I can’t wait for 2027 to become the only man to win five 200-meter titles. Today, I didn’t have the start I had in the semifinal, but I knew I was still moving fast. I studied my competitors. I knew their momentum was going to show up once we got closer to 150 meters, but mine was going to build up after I hit that mark.”

Bednarek ran a season-best 19.58 but, just like at the 2022 World Championships, had to settle for silver behind the unstoppable Noah Lyles. Now, with his sights set on Usain Bolt’s record, who knows, Lyles might even chase another gold at the 2028 Olympics in LA. What do you make of his bold ambitions?