Noah Lyles is chasing a piece of history that only Usain Bolt has touched, yet the pursuit of a fourth consecutive 200m world crown is now being shadowed by doubt from one of the sport’s most decorated veterans. The American sprinter, who has already stamped the 2025 season with a world-leading 19.63 at the US Trials, should by every measure enter Tokyo as the favorite. His dominance in the event has been consistent, marked by his record-equalling fifth national title, where he surged past Kenny Bednarek in the closing strides on June 30. Still, recent remarks from Justin Gatlin have complicated the narrative, suggesting that Lyles may not have the form to secure gold this time.

Lyles’ position appears strong on paper. Bednarek, who finished a close second in 19.67 at the Trials, remains his most persistent domestic rival. Their clash, heightened by the shove Bednarek gave Lyles after the finish, underscored the intensity of their battle. From abroad, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has also made his presence unavoidable. The Olympic champion in Paris, who defeated Lyles in that final, continues to pose a serious obstacle. Lyles struck back with wins over Tebogo in Monaco on July 11 and again at the Zurich Diamond League Final in September, although the margins, 0.09 and 0.02 seconds, revealed how precarious the contests have become. Meanwhile, predicting about the Worlds, US track and field legend Justin Gatlin had some sombre words for Noah Lyles.

It is within this context that Gatlin delivered a prediction certain to sting. “At second I actually have Noah Lyles at second place for the 200 meters,” he said in the recent episode of the Tidal League podcast. The 2004 Olympic champion elaborated that Noah Lyles “is not as I think race sharp as he could be. He seems to be kind of uh strongarmming his races. He doesn’t have that turnover like he had once before.” In Gatlin’s view, the advantage has shifted toward Bednarek, whom he selected for gold, “Gold is going to Kenny… He runs a great turn. He comes off the turn. He holds form very well.” Such words not only place doubt on Lyles’ readiness but also highlight the belief that Bednarek has finally found the formula to capitalize on his strengths.

Not everyone agrees with Gatlin’s pessimism. Analyst Rodney Green recently remarked, “Now I’m I’m more confident in Noah and the and the 200 now that we about to go into the 200 predictions. I I really I really got Noah winning. Like I don’t think he loses this one.” Green emphasized that Lyles’ narrow victory at the US Trials demonstrated mental resilience, particularly in overtaking Bednarek at the line. For him, that performance confirmed Lyles’ ability to withstand pressure: “That’s showing that Noah showed up and that how he showed up at USA’s and and beat him with that win, even though it was at the line.” Green further projected Tebogo in third, with a nod to younger contenders such as Brian Deville, who may become relevant in the years ahead.

Whether Gatlin’s skepticism or Green’s faith proves closer to reality will be decided on the track. What is clear is that the men’s 200m in Tokyo now carries more than the weight of historical milestones. It is shaped by rivalry, by the memories of Lyles’ disappointment in the 2021 Olympic stadium, and by the conviction of voices who disagree sharply on his readiness. For Lyles, this championship is no longer merely about equaling Bolt’s run of four straight titles. It is also about answering those who no longer trust that he will finish first when it matters most. Meanwhile, Lyles expressed clear excitement over his growing form as he prepared to defend his sprint titles at the upcoming world championships.

This loyalty-driven approach has arguably become part of Crawford’s brand, anchored in Omaha, in familiar surroundings, he’s crafted his “Bud” identity: grounded, self-made, loyal. Many pundits say the comfort of home camp, uninterrupted by relocation upheaval, has sharpened his focus, especially as he steps up two weight classes.

August 2024 marked Crawford’s last fight, a win over Israil Madrimov for the WBA light-middleweight title; since then, he’s been in prolonged training in Omaha, preparing for what may be the defining fight of his career.

Noah Lyles embraces late surge in form ahead of world title defense

Noah Lyles spoke with unmistakable enthusiasm as he reflected on his progress toward defending both sprint titles at next month’s world championships. Having missed weeks of preparation earlier in the year, his return to sub-10 second form in Poland provided the reassurance he had been seeking. “I’m super excited because I’m seeing the progression,” he stated in Lausanne, noting that his body was beginning to respond with the sharpness required for championship racing.

The American sprinter acknowledged the imbalance in experience compared with many of his rivals, observing that “everybody else has had probably eight, 10 races already,” while he had only contested three 100-metre events since mid-July. Even so, he regarded the condensed schedule as part of the challenge and preferred to measure the improvement rather than lament lost opportunities. The 9.90 performance placed him just behind Kishane Thompson on the season’s list, and Lyles viewed that result as a timely indicator. His immediate focus rested on the Diamond League in Lausanne, one of only two further appearances before the championships in Tokyo.

For Lyles, the task was not only to sharpen his execution but to carry forward the confidence that came from incremental gains. “This is the last two races that I’m going to have before we get (to Tokyo),” he remarked, while also pointing to an upcoming 200 in Zurich. His comments conveyed a quiet certainty about his direction. “I know something great is going to happen,” he concluded, summarizing his belief that each race now served as a vital step toward maintaining his hold on the global sprinting stage.