Just when the 100m narrative seemed to be leaning Noah Lyles’ way, London flipped the script. At the 2025 Diamond League meet in the UK capital, all eyes were on Lyles, the reigning 100m World Champion, blazing his way toward the Paris Olympics. But what unfolded on that London track was a moment of high drama. Oblique Seville of Jamaica stunned the field with a 9.86s dash, snatching the win, while Lyles trailed behind at 10.00s, his season’s best, but not enough on the day. The fans were left stunned, voices clinging to hope that just before the World Championship, Lyles would surge back.  How does a star like Lyles process a loss like this?

Well, enter Donovan Bailey, the 1996 Olympic gold medallist, who broke it down like only a legend can. Appearing on a recent podcast, on Donovan’s YouTube channel, Bailey shared his take on Lyles’ London outing and the broader 100m picture heading into 2025. “First of all, the 100 meters is a world-class 100 meters,” Bailey began, making it clear that no one should overlook the depth of the current sprint scene. “There are many of those athletes from London that we’re going to see representing their country in Japan.”

What’s more, Bailey made a critical observation, Lyles doesn’t get any shortcuts. “Noah ran slow, but Noah has to go back and make the team next year,” he said. “Now, as the Olympic champion, he doesn’t get a bye… he will have to run for it.” That means Lyles must again prove himself at the U.S. Trials to punch his ticket to Paris, a gauntlet as fierce as any final.

Bailey didn’t stop there. “You will see Tobo, you will see Samini… you will see Seville, you’re going to see a Zarnell Hughes,” he added, underlining the crowd of elite sprinters waiting in the wings. The path to Paris, it seems, won’t just demand speed from Noah Lyles, it’ll demand resilience. So, how has this sprint saga fared so far?

Noah Lyles’ 2025 season drama

Well, Noah Lyles kicked off 2025 with that electric vibe we love. At the RADD Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, on January 26, he blazed through the 60m, clocking identical 6.62-second times in both heats and the final, outpacing Caleb Dean’s 6.68. Fresh off his Paris 2024 Olympic 100m gold, Lyles was back, shaking off a tight ankle. But how would he fare in longer sprints?

Fast forward to April 20, Lyles tried something new, a 400m at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic. He nabbed fifth with a personal-best 45.87, a bold move for the 100m and 200m king. His confidence screamed, “I’m here to dominate!” So, could he keep that momentum in his signature events?

July brought fireworks. At the Monaco Diamond League, Lyles owned the 200m with a 19.88, edging out Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo. Then, London’s Diamond League hit. Lyles, in a sleek mauve one-piece, ran a solid 10.00 in the 100m but got dusted by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville’s 9.86. “I feel great, extremely healthy,” Lyles said, unfazed. Can he rebound at the World Championships in Tokyo?