By Amy Tennery
PARIS (Reuters) – Noah Lyles rode through all the highs and lows before reaching the pinnacle of his sport on Sunday, rebounding from career frustrations to win the men’s 100 metres final in a classic at the Paris Olympics.
The three-time world champion at the 200m failed even to qualify for the shorter sprint at the U.S. Olympic trials three years ago, and rebuilt himself with the singular goal of becoming the fastest man on earth.
On Sunday he clinched the top of the podium by just five thousands of a second in 9.79, in a finale where a 9.91 from Jamaican rival Oblique Seville was only good enough for last place.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, ups and downs. I’m usually a guy who likes to come out blazing in all my rounds, especially in the 200m. But the 100m, it’s my first time here on the Olympic stage,” he said.
A superstar long before he set foot on the track at the Stade de France, all eyes were on the charismatic showman of the sport who starred in the popular Netflix series “SPRINT” and completed an elusive world championship double in Budapest.
He hopes that compelling storylines can catapult his sport into the limelight in the United States, where U.S. fans are hard to draw to the track outside of the Olympics.
“I’ve always looked at my sport like we can do more. I want more from not only our federations but also our athletes. Of course, everybody within their comfort zones. But I want to see this great sport of ours and what we have to show,” he said.
“The dominance, the storylines.”
Lyles will compete next in the 200m in his quest for the rare Olympic sprint double, with the opening rounds set for Monday.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Paris; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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