Noah Lyles addressed the story on Saturday.
The 25-year-old American sprinter recorded his 34th career 200-meter run under 20 seconds after winning the 2023 New York Grand Prix with a time of 19.83 seconds. It also marked Lyles’ 11th win this season.
“It’s not perfect, but it was great fun,” Lyles told NBC after the race.
This mark equaled Usain Bolt’s career record. Lyles’ time also placed third in the event behind Bolt’s world record of 19.19 seconds from 2009 and Yohan by Blake 19.26 as of 2011.
Lyles has been in tears throughout his professional career. He is a three-time world champion, four-time Diamond League Finals winner and has won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics since turning pro in 2016.
It was Lyles’ second result under 20 seconds this season after doing it 11 times in 2022. He will have a chance to break Bolt’s record if he takes part in another competition this summer. Options ahead in the Diamond League in London on July 23 or the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest, Hungary from mid-August to late August.