The 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships delivered a dramatic twist when Noah Lyles, the reigning 100m world champion from Budapest 2023, fell short of defending his title, securing only a bronze medal in the 100m final. This setback, however, fueled his determination to dominate his signature event—the 200m.

Channeling his frustration into focus, Lyles unleashed a spectacular performance in the 200m semifinals, clocking a world-leading time of 19.51 seconds. This made him the World’s fastest 200m man this year. Also, it not only announced his readiness to reclaim his throne but also positioned him as the overwhelming favorite for gold in the final. Lyles’ semifinal victory was particularly significant given the context of lane assignments, which play a critical role in sprint success.

Earlier in the competition, he had been allotted lane 7 for his semifinal heat—a challenging position that forces athletes to run blind on the curve without sight of their rivals, potentially disrupting rhythm and confidence. Despite this disadvantage, Lyles transcended the limitations of his lane, exploding off the curve with unmatched power and striding to a commanding win.

In fact, just before the race started, Lyles pulled off the “Gear 2” pose, and then he went on to win it in record-breaking time. In fact, Lyles’ time of 19.51 seconds bettered his previous season’s best (19.63 at the USA Championships) and demonstrated his ability to overcome external challenges through sheer technical prowess and mental fortitude. And after clocking the world-lead, he said, “I mean, coach told me that I need to run what, within 20 or faster off the turn, and that’s what I planned to do. I think I accomplished that. I don’t know. I have to go look at the numbers, but I mean, if I ran 19.5, then it had to be somewhere in there.”

By posting the fastest time, Lyles is now guaranteed a central lane in the finals, likely lane 5 or 6, which will allow him to monitor his competitors and execute his race plan more effectively. This advantage is crucial against a field including rivals like Letsile Tebogo and Zharnel Hughes, who also advanced but with slower times. Moreover, Lyles’ 19.51-second run marks a significant personal milestone. While it did not break his American record of 19.31, it was a statement of intent ahead of the final.

Indeed, when the camera pointed towards Lyles before the event even started, it showcased how ready he was with all the expressions he made. At first, his form looked really well, then the moment he crossed the first 100m, he exploded to the finish line. However, are you aware that during the 200m heats, he acted like a mentor to a fellow rival sprinter?

Noah Lyles helped out his rival in Tokyo

While hanging out in the call room before the heat, Noah Lyles and Canada’s Andre de Grasse noticed his Jamaican rival, Christopher Taylor, looking pretty anxious about the race. The 26-year-old is a skilled 400m sprinter, yet he turned up for a 200m event instead. But he just didn’t feel confident in himself or the race.

In his post-race interview, Lyles shared, “Oh yeah, we were in the call room, and me and Andre were sitting next to each other, and [Taylor] was on the other side of Andre. Andre was like, ‘Hey man, why do you look nervous?’ He was like, ‘I am nervous.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, bro, there ain’t nothing to be nervous about; it’s just a first round, it’s just another 200.’

Lyles further elaborated on the situation, saying, “He’s like, ‘How do you not be nervous?’ I said, ‘Well, you can start by uncrossing your hands and relaxing your jaw and just realize it’s another 200; you’ll be good.’ He’s like, ‘Just do what your coach said. Your coach is probably gonna… your coach knows best.’ I’m like, ‘I’m my own coach. Do what you said; I’m pretty sure you know best.’”

Lyles shared his advice based on his own experiences and the mindset that helped him reach the top of the sport. Having dealt with a ton of pressure himself, like competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics while battling COVID-19, he knows all about the mental hurdles athletes face. He wasn’t just talking about the technical stuff; he was getting into Taylor’s head, encouraging him to have faith in his prep and really soak in the moment. So, as Lyles gets ready for the final, we’ll just have to wait and see if he can hold onto his 200m title from Budapest.