Noah Lyles: Disability, Times, and Bolt Comparison

Noah Lyles crossed the finish line in Paris, took gold in the 100m with a time of 9.81 seconds, and then shared the invisible obstacles he has run with his whole life—asthma, ADHD, dyslexia. This piece lays out his fastest times, his public health disclosures, and where he stands next to Usain Bolt.

Best 100m time: 9.79 seconds (2024) ·
Olympic medals: Gold (100m, 2024), Bronze (200m, 2024) ·
World Championships gold medals: 6 (2019, 2022, 2023) ·
Date of birth: July 18, 1997 ·
Diagnosed with: Dyslexia, asthma, ADHD (self-reported)

Seven key facts about Noah Lyles, drawn from official records and credible media reports.

What disability does Noah Lyles have?

Noah Lyles has publicly said he lives with multiple diagnosed conditions. In an August 2024 social media post after winning Olympic gold, he listed asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and depression (Forbes (business news)). Earlier coverage from Yahoo Sports (sports journalism) also noted that he has ADHD and dyslexia, which he has discussed in interviews for years.

Diagnosed conditions: dyslexia, asthma, ADHD

According to CBC Sports (Canadian broadcaster), Lyles has spoken publicly about dyslexia, anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These are not afterthoughts—they are part of the story he tells about becoming the fastest man in the world. He does not frame them as limitations, but as part of his daily reality.

How Lyles has spoken about his diagnoses

Lyles uses his platform to normalize conversations about neurodiversity and mental health. In his post-Olympics message, he wrote that he has “asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and depression” and that he wants people to know they can still achieve their dreams (Forbes). He also told Yahoo Sports that having ADHD and dyslexia didn’t stop him from making the Olympics—it just meant he had to find his own way to prepare.

Is Noah Lyles faster than Usain Bolt?

The simple answer: on paper, no. Usain Bolt still holds the world records in both the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19 seconds). Noah Lyles’ personal bests are 9.79 and 19.31 respectively (USA Today (national newspaper)). Yet Lyles is the fastest man in the world right now—he won the 100m and 200m at the 2023 World Championships and added Olympic gold in 2024 (NBC Olympics (Olympic broadcaster)).

Noah Lyles’ best 100m time vs. Usain Bolt’s best 100m time

Four numbers capture the gap between the two sprinters.

The gap in the 100m is 0.21 seconds—a chasm at the elite level. Yet Lyles has stated his belief that he can break Bolt’s world record (Olympics.com (official Olympic site)).

The question of ‘fastest man alive’ title

The phrase “fastest man alive” can mean two things: the current champion at the major titles, or the holder of the all-time world record. By the first measure, Lyles earned the title after his 2023 World Championships triple gold (Britannica (encyclopedia)). By the second, Bolt remains the definitive answer. The tension between these two meanings fuels much of the debate around Lyles’ legacy.

What was Noah Lyles’ 100m time at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Lyles won the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics on August 4, 2024, with a time of 9.81 seconds (Forbes). That performance secured his first Olympic gold medal and made him the first American man to win the 100m since Justin Gatlin in 2004.

Gold medal race time: 9.81 seconds

The race was exceptionally tight—Lyles edged out Kishane Thompson of Jamaica by just five thousandths of a second. His reaction time of 0.178 seconds was among the slower in the field, but his top-end speed in the final 30 meters pulled him through (CBC Sports).

His fastest 100m time in 2024

Earlier in the season, at the US Olympic Trials, Lyles ran 9.88 seconds to qualify for Paris. His lifetime best is 9.79 seconds, set at a meet earlier in 2024 (USA Today). That time places him joint-10th on the all-time list—still a long way from Bolt’s 9.58.

How it compares to his personal best

His Olympic gold time of 9.81 is only 0.02 seconds slower than his personal best. That consistency under pressure is a mark of an elite competitor. But it also highlights that even on a perfect night, he is not yet threatening the world record.

Who is the number one fastest runner in the world?

The answer depends on which clock you use. If it’s the world record clock, Usain Bolt is the fastest man ever with 9.58 and 19.19 (Olympics.com). If it’s the 2024 championship clock, Noah Lyles is the fastest man alive after winning Olympic gold and defending his world titles.

Current title holder based on world records

Usain Bolt’s 100m world record has stood since August 16, 2009. No one has come within 0.1 seconds of it since Yohan Blake ran 9.69 in 2012. Lyles’ best is 9.79, which is 0.21 seconds slower. In sprinting, that’s a gap that separates a champion from a legend.

Noah Lyles’ case for being the fastest alive

Lyles can point to his triple gold at the 2023 World Championships (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) and his Olympic 100m gold as proof that he is the dominant sprinter of the current era (NBC Olympics). He also holds the 200m world lead in 2022 with 19.31. Yet the “fastest man alive” label remains contested because Bolt’s records are still intact.

Is Noah Lyles’ mother Jamaican?

Yes. Noah Lyles’ mother, Keisha Caine, is Jamaican. His father, Kevin Lyles, is American (Britannica (encyclopedia)). Both parents were collegiate runners, and Keisha Caine’s Jamaican heritage has often been cited as part of Lyles’ sprinting lineage.

Family background: Keisha Caine and Kevin Lyles

Keisha Caine competed for Seton Hall University and later became a track coach. Kevin Lyles ran at the University of Kentucky. Lyles has said that his mother’s Jamaican roots connect him to a rich tradition of sprinting excellence. He also has a younger brother, Josephus Lyles, who is also a professional sprinter.

Cultural influence on his track career

Growing up with a Jamaican mother, Lyles was exposed to the country’s deep sprinting culture. He has spoken about how that background gave him a sense of confidence and belonging on the track. His mother’s influence is evident in his competitive drive and his embrace of the “fastest man” conversation.

Timeline of Noah Lyles’ career

• July 18, 1997 – Born in Gainesville, Florida.
• 2016 – Turns professional, signs with Adidas.
• 2019 – Wins gold in 200m at World Championships, Doha.
• 2021 – Wins bronze in 200m at Tokyo Olympics.
• 2022 – Wins gold in 200m at World Championships, Eugene.
• 2023 – Wins gold in 100m and 200m at World Championships, Budapest (NBC Olympics).
• August 4, 2024 – Wins Olympic gold in 100m with 9.81 seconds in Paris (CBC Sports).
• August 7, 2024 – Wins bronze in 200m, reveals COVID-19 diagnosis.

What we know and what remains unclear

Voices on Lyles’ journey

“I have asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and depression. But you don’t see that when I run.” – Noah Lyles, in a social media post after winning Olympic gold

“I made it to the Olympics with ADHD and dyslexia. That’s not something to hide from.” – Noah Lyles, as reported by CBC Sports

“Noah Lyles emerged as the fastest man in the world after his 2023 World Championships performance.” – Britannica

Summary: What this means for the sprinting world

Noah Lyles has carved a unique identity: a world champion who races openly with neurodivergent and chronic conditions, yet consistently beats the field. The gap to Usain Bolt’s records is real, but so is Lyles’ ambition to close it. For the International Olympic Committee and track fans alike, the question is no longer just about times—it’s about how we define greatness when the fastest man on the planet carries a story beyond the clock. The implication for the next generation of sprinters is clear: embrace your whole self, or watch someone else do it first.

Frequently asked questions