Monaco Reminds Us Why Noah Lyles Still Matters

Editor’s note: This feature is written by Deji Ogeyingbo, is about the relevance of Noah Lyles, and what makes him unique.

Outdoors in 2025, Noah Lyles has raced three times. Last spring, he ran a 400m in 45.47 PB. Then, on July 11, he ran 19.88 for 200m, and on July 19, Noah opened at the 100m in London, taking second to Oblique Seville. Deji Ogeyingbo wrote this piece just after the 200m victory by Noah, but it make sense after race three as well. Noah told the media that he will race the 200m, all rounds in Eugene for the US champs, where he has two byes, one in the 100 meters, and one in the 200 meters, as he won both in Budapest in 2023! 

Monaco Reminds Us Why Noah Lyles Still Matters

By all accounts, Noah Lyles wasn’t supposed to win in Monaco. The Olympic Champion, Letsile Tebogo, younger and freshly sharpened by a world-leading 19.76 in Eugene less than a week earlier, looked more primed. Lyles, by comparison, hadn’t raced in nearly three months. That kind of layoff at the elite level tends to show. But then again, Lyles isn’t the kind of athlete who cares much for that sort of math.

Lyles lined up in Monaco knowing people were watching to see if he could still back up everything he says. He’s been accused of talking too much, of believing too hard in himself, of needing to tone it down. Track often celebrates humility to a fault, but Lyles has always chosen to speak loudly about greatness, about goals, about himself. Some people love that, others have long been waiting for him to slip.

He didn’t give them what they wanted.

Against a field that included Tebogo and rising talent Makanakaishe Charamba, Lyles delivered a 19.88 win into a headwind. Tebogo was second in 19.97, and Charamba was right on his heels. On paper, it wasn’t the kind of time that usually lights up headlines. But when adjusting for the wind, the numbers tell a sharper story: Lyles’ run was worth a 19.81 in neutral conditions. Tebogo’s time translates to 19.91. Small margins, sure. But enough to tilt the conversation back toward Lyles.

More than the time, it was the rhythm of the race that stood out. Tebogo never truly looked settled. He couldn’t find the right gear coming off the bend, and Lyles saw his chance. That’s when he does his best work. When doubt hovers in the air and the spotlight is leaning too hard in someone else’s direction, his mind is at its sharpest.

After the race, Lyles said he didn’t feel pressure. He wasn’t bluffing. If there’s anything he’s developed more than raw speed, it’s an internal control tower that keeps him grounded no matter the stakes. He said, “I pray for times like this to be out here and do what I love.” That kind of clarity doesn’t show up on a stopwatch, but it explains a lot about why he keeps showing up when it matters.

Lyles is one of the most polarizing athletes in track and field. He knows this. He sometimes fuels it. The sport hasn’t had many personalities who willingly step into the middle of the room and say, “Look at me.” When they do, there’s always a price. People expect them to deliver, not once or twice, but every single time. When they don’t, the backlash is instant. Lyles has lived through that. His response? Keep going.

In Monaco, he gave his doubters a little less to say. The time was solid. The result was better. He beat the guy who was supposed to beat him, and he did it with a kind of confidence that can’t be faked. This wasn’t a man coming off a layoff who needed to feel things out. This was a man who has spent years tuning his mind to rise when the odds say otherwise.

What separates Lyles isn’t a clear physical advantage. In terms of raw ability, there are many who believe Tebogo has a higher ceiling over 200 meters. Others would say Kishane Thompson is more explosive over 100. But Lyles brings something harder to pin down. When others tighten, he breathes. When people count him out, he locks in. His greatest strength is not his stride, it’s how he thinks.

That mentality is going to matter in Tokyo, come September. The World Championships are a long grind, and there will be bigger names, sharper runners, and more noise. Lyles will be one of the few who’s been through all of it before and come out with medals. But more than that, he’ll be one of the few who won’t flinch when the tension starts to build.

He might never be Usain Bolt. That comparison should stop being asked of anyone. But if the goal is to keep people talking, to draw attention to the sprinting stage, and to walk toward pressure instead of away from it, then Lyles is still doing the job better than most.

There are runners with faster legs. There are some with better technique. But there aren’t many with a stronger mind. In a sport that measures everything, that may still be the thing that matters most.

For more on Noah Lyles, please check out our 2025 RBR Interview (from Nov 2024) : 

Noah Lyles Assesses the Sport of Global Athletics, The 2025 RunBlogRun Interview