Noah Lyles on Why Usain Bolt's Compatriot is the 'Most Complete' Sprinter Ever

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Noah Lyles on Why Usain Bolt's Compatriot is the 'Most Complete' Sprinter Ever

Evans Ousuru 18:00 - 17.04.2025

Noah Lyles explains reasons he feels Usain Bolt's countryman is an all-rounded athlete and the best ever.

Reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles is of the opinion that Usain Bolt is not the most complete sprinter of all time despite his dominance on track and field.

The Jamaican, whose 100m and 200m records set more than 15 years ago are yet to be broken, conquered the world especially at the Olympics level.

He won three consecutive gold medals in the afforementioned specialties at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics to also settle the debate on the fastest man alive.

Despite these achievements cementing Bolt as one of the greatest athletes of the 21st century, Noah Lyles favours one of Bolt's compatriots and relay teammates as the most complete sprinter  to ever take to the track.

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What Noah Lyles Said

'Execution of The Start' - Noah Lyles on Why Usain Bolt's Compatriot is the 'Most Complete' Sprinter Ever
Noah Lyles will kick off his outdoor season in the 200m event

Give Me Sports reported that Lyles favoured Asafa Powell to be the best ever and all-round sprinter, regardless of his unpopular record.

"Truthfully? It's crazy when I say this because he's known as a choker, but it's also powerful. The man puts together perfect races," Lyle's, the Olympic 200m bronze medallist observed.

"His execution of the start, his reaction times, his acceleration, his transition - smooth. It's relaxed when he's not under pressure. And he finishes. It never fails."

What are Asafa Powell's achievements?

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Asafa Powell opens up on his unexpected exit from athletics

Powell did not always deliver in the biggest races as he never won an individual Olympic medal and could only manage two bronze medals at the World Athletics Championships.

Powell's impressive running technique resulted in some notable success for the Jamaican, as he broke the 100m record on multiple occasions between 2005 and 2007, before Bolt came into the frame and took over the sprinting game.

His personal best sprint time in the 100m of 9.72 seconds came at the Athlettisima Grand Prix in Lausanne in 2008.

Lyles is looking to cement himself as the next leading star of the sprint game, and after winning gold in last summer's 100m final at the Olympics in Paris, he is well on his way to emulating stars of the past such as Bolt and Powell. 

In three years' time, he will defend his 100m crown in front of his native crowd, as the Olympics heads to Los Angeles in 2028.