Topics: Usain Bolt, Noah Lyles, Athletics, Olympics
Usain Bolt is not about to help Noah Lyles break his long-standing world records.
It has been 16 years since Bolt set new all-time-best times in both the 100m and 200m at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
American sprint superstar Noah Lyles has made no secret of his ambitions to eclipse Bolt's records in both events.
The 27-year-old took gold in the 100m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. And early in the year he set a new national record in the 200m, beating Michael Johnson's preview top time.
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In an interview with Citius Mag, Bolt gave a cold response when asked about Lyles' prospects of taking his records.
"I think the guys are really doing well," Bolt said of the current set of elite sprinters on the world circuit, speaking prior to the Paris Games. "It's really intense, I must say.
"I think Noah will think it's easy running both events. It was never easy. I've always said it is not east running back-to-back events and then going on to break the world record, because your body runs out of energy, so you're not ready.
"I think the possibility is there, because he came close at the world championships," he said of Lyles potentially eclipsing his 200m mark. "If he corrects a few things, he could get better. The possibility is there.
"I won't say [what he needs to correct]. I won't tell you how to break the world record."
The Jamaican sprint icon also discussed what it meant to him to be able to represent his country on the global stage throughout his career.
"It's the biggest thing," he said. "Representing your country in anything, any sport, any way – I feel actually privileged. I enjoyed it.
"Just being with the team, getting to travel, coming back, being celebrated by the country, it's just a wonderful feeling.
"It was an honour for me. And even now, I'm happy that I'm still an ambassador for them. I still get to promote the country and put it on the map.
"It was a dream come true."
