Lyles Ends Season, Eyes Records, 2028 Gold

Noah Lyles ended his 2026 season early because of an injury but remains focused on a stronger return over the next two years. The reigning Olympic 100-meter champion said his world-leading 9.79-second performance and two 9.7-second races at the U.S. championships convinced him he can challenge Tyson Gay’s American record of 9.69 seconds, despite technical weaknesses in the opening 30 meters. Lyles plans to reduce media and promotional commitments and devote more attention to training and competition. He described 2027 as the foundation for his effort to win another world title and defend his Olympic 100-meter gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.