Reigning 100-metre Olympic champion Noah Lyles has a future threat to his crown in teenager Gout Gout, and the American has made his opinion of the Australian sensation clear
Sprint king Noah Lyles has made his thoughts clear on the rising threat of Gout Gout ahead of their showdown at the World Athletics Championships. And it’s safe to say the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winner welcomes the upcoming competition he’s set to face from the Australian sensation.
Lyles was a six-time world champion in his field before being crowned Olympic champion in the 100 metres at Paris 2024. He was unable to retain the 100m world title he won in Budapest two years ago, however, when he placed third in the final of the 2025 World Championships sprint on Sunday as Jamaica’s Oblique Seville took the crown.
Lyles, 28, spoke to Gout on his Beyond the Records podcast earlier this year when the 17-year-old made a guest appearance. And despite the spectre of an up-and-coming rival in his presence, the Florida-born star was nothing but gracious as he urged him to fulfil his potential.
“Well, Gout, thank you for being here with us,” said Lyles, who will square off with Gout in the 200m this week. “We are extremely honoured that you would allow us to be your first representation to the rest of the world, that you would share your personality.
“And from the bottom of our hearts here, bruh, we hope to see you have an amazing season. I know that you can reach out to me. [Co-host and Olympic hurdles champion] Grant [Hollpway]’s gonna say the same thing. For anything you need, any help we can give, bruh.”
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As if that wasn’t a kind enough message from one athlete wanting to lift up a future rival, Lyles topped the comment off with panache. And he did so with a simple three-word message to Gout as he concluded: “Go be great.”
The address serves to illustrate the kind of person Lyles is. While others might be inclined to keep their nemeses – current or future – at arm’s length, the defending Olympic champion wants the best his peers can give him.
Lyles has made headlines for his controversial opinions in the past but did his utmost to show Gout his softer side. The American was criticised by some of his compatriots in the past for making fun of the NBA champions being referred to as “world champions.”
Gout, who has been compared to Usain Bolt and has already broken one of his records, may be the best in his class at the 100m but was not present in the event in Tokyo this week. That was due to tactics, however, with he and his team focusing on the 200m event for the time being.
The first heats for the 200m are due to take place on Wednesday when Gout will take the next giant step in his athletics development. He previously won silver in the final of the Under-20 World Championships last year but will hope to go one better against more senior competition in Japan.
The man who beat him to the gold in Lima last year, South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza, will not be competing at the World Championships. That’s after the 19-year-old failed to recover from a hamstring injury suffered at the Diamond League last month, though he wasn’t due to take part in the 200m event in any case.
Lyles, however, will be part of the line-ups seeking 200m glory, which he has called his “favourite” event. And despite the friendly relationship between the pair to date, all niceties may go out the window when the quest for track glory gets underway.
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