History of USA track star Carl Lewis explains why Noah Lyles' dominance at the Olympics is necessary for sport.
Track and field is looking for a new face, and Noah Lyles has a chance to be that, as he is set to run in at least three Olympic medal events.
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Track and field has been looking for a new face of the sport ever since Usain Bolt hung up his spikes, and they may find one this weekend.
Noah Lyles' goal is to take home four gold medals. The American sprinter is training for the 4x400m relay, but for now, it is unclear if he will compete in the 100, 200, or 4x100m relay.
Seeing the same person win often may seem monotonous after a while. From 2008 to 2016, Bolt won three titles in the 100, 200, and 4x100 meters. (The 2008 4x100m squad was ultimately disqualified as Jamaican Nesta Carter tested positive for a prohibited drug.)
However, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, arguably the last American face of track and field, says there is "no question" that it would be "best for the sport" if Lyles were to take home at least a couple of gold medals from Paris.
"I think the sport needs someone like him that’s a champion. He’s the defending champion, the fastest man in the world right now, and we need someone to grab onto. I think he’s the perfect guy to do that, and I’m excited about that," Lewis told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
"I think track does better when we do have a superstar. That’s why I think if Noah were to win, he would elevate the sport as well. As opposed to saying ‘I wonder who’s going to win,’ people want to say ‘I want him’ or ‘I don’t want him.’ They want to root for someone, or root against someone. I think it creates more intensity when you have someone that dominates, and that’s been throughout history. . . . People have really gravitated to the sport when people really dominated more."
Lewis is in Paris with Lyles after the track stars partnered with Tide, a dream partnership for the former long-jumper, as he "really got dirty" in competition. It's also a way for a nine-time Olympic gold medalist to relate to the average joe. In order to stay clean, "we have to do the simple things that everyone else has to do," he says.
But joining the campaign with Lyles was a "no-brainer," he says.
"When they reached out to me and talked to me about doing something with Noah, that was very exciting. He’s an exciting young athlete, I’m a really big fan of his. . . . It was a no-brainer, a quick, quick, quick yes," Lewis said.
He may be an expert, and deep down, he probably has several predictions on Lyles' Olympic fate, but he's not making them public.
"I’ve never made a prediction, and I’m going to keep my streak, because next thing you know, they’re running to Noah saying, ‘Carl said you’re gonna win today.’ So I’ll stay out of that," he jokes.
Lyles will be competing in the 100m final on Sunday afternoon, the 200m (his best event where he is aiming for a world record) on Thursday, and the 4x100m relay on Friday. And, just in case, the 4x400m will be Saturday.
