Noah Lyles’ return to Tokyo for the 2025 World Athletics Championships has been a mixture of loss, redemption and celebration. Noah, although narrowly missing the top podium spot in the 100m, grabbed the highest podium place in the 200m, defeating Tebogo. Behind every achievement, however, there is a foundation of support for the American champ. For Lyles, that foundation is his mother, Keisha Caine Bishop.

From his early days in Alexandria, Virginia, to the global stage, Bishop’s dedication shaped his path. “She sacrificed so much to make sure that we would be able to get that,” Lyles said. Kiesha stood as a pillar and supported her son through asthma struggles, setbacks, and the long grind of training. Bishop was there for every hospital visit, every night of uncertainty, just to make sure that her sons’ dreams turned into reality.

In Tokyo, Bishop also extended her admiration to the Jamaican athletes who bested her son. “I’m very proud of Jamaica,” she said to AFP, praising Seville and Thompson. She added, “You know, it’s such a tiny island, but they has so much talent and so much pride. And I’m so proud of the guys who got first and second in the 100, with Kishane and Oblique. And I think that Jamaica has overcome so many adversities. You know, they’ve only been independent since the 1960s, I believe. And just how far they’ve come, the resiliency, the perseverance, the hard work, I love it.” 

Beyond the track, Bishop shared a personal milestone that intertwined with international athletics. Noah’s engagement to Jamaican 400m runner Junelle Bromfield. The couple, dating since 2022, announced their engagement on October 13 with a video showing Lyles proposing beside a lit sign that read, “Will you marry me?” Bishop described this as a significant transition for the family. She then went down memory lane, reminiscing about her best days, having met and married Kevin Lyles after their collegiate track careers.

The family’s athletic roots run deep. Both Bishop and her husband were track stars at Seton Hall University in the 1990s, instilling in their children a natural affinity for the sport. “To them, making the Olympics was like getting a driver’s license because they have been raised around so many track and field Olympians,” she explained. Such a foundation of discipline, commitment, and love for the sport carried Noah through Tokyo 2025, enabling him to recover from disappointment in the 100m and triumph in the 200m.

While Noah faced defeat in the 100m, the presence of his mother, the support of his family, and his hard work made him secure the eighth title with the 200m win. And now it is not just the medals that the Lyles family would be celebrating, but also the upcoming D-day of the duo. And while Noah has always been supported by his mom, he never let go of his partner when she had to stand against unprecedented backlash.

Noah Lyles stood by his fiancée amid backlash from Jamaican fans

Noah Lyles made sure to stand firmly beside his girlfriend Junelle Bromfield as she confronted intense scrutiny from her own countrymen ahead of the Paris Olympics. Bromfield became a target of online vitriol. Why? Lyles seemingly revealed details regarding the inner workings of the Jamaican training camp, which were privy to a conversation between him and Bromfield. And it all took flight after Lyles shared insights on a YouTube podcast.

Lyles’ opinion led some fans to accuse Bromfield of betraying her nation. Lyles addressed the controversy directly, asserting, “The most impressive thing I’ve seen recently is how she’s dealt with the pure disrespect and hatred towards her from her own country. This woman has been attacked by people who have never met her, heard her name before, never seen her smile, or heard what she believes in.”

Bromfield, on the other hand, responded to the backlash with calmness. She even sought divine guidance, sharing a verse from the Bible on her socials. Despite being a bronze medalist in the 4x400m relay and proving her commitment to Jamaican athletics, Lyles’ insights were enough to fuel the public debate.

However, despite every debacle, Lyles’ support provided Bromfield a space of reassurance. He publicly praised her perseverance, stating, “I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of my GF and give her the flowers she deserves now. She has been through so much in her life that I could never imagine fighting through. Beyond that she is a survivor, 2x Olympian, Olympic medalists, Multi world championship medalist, and has been representing Jamaica on the world stage since she was 8 years old.” Bromfield acknowledging Noah’s support wrote, “Thank you baby For always supporting long before we even started dating. I love and appreciate you always.”

This chapter before the Paris Olympics indeed turned out quite stressful for Junelle back then. However, as it appears, the athletes and the track community have now left the chaos behind.