Noah Lyles delves into the future of sprinting, his legacy, and eventual departure from the sport

Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles has opened up on the uncertainties in the world of sprinting, admitting that "nobody knows which direction to go in" despite a wealth of emerging talent.

After securing his fourth consecutive 200m world title in Tokyo last month, the American speedster is already contemplating his legacy and eventual departure from the sport. He has his sights set on surpassing Usain Bolt's record with a fifth world title in Beijing in 2027, but his long-term vision extends even further.

"I have a strong blueprint of what I want my last year in the sport to look like," Lyles revealed in an interview with The Guardian. "I’ve looked pretty far into the future."

The 28-year-old is targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as his final major championship. Although, he hasn't ruled out competing at the 2032 Brisbane Games.

Lyles wants his grand farewell tour, planned for sometime between 2028 and 2032, will include races in new countries to check off "bucket list things," a few events close to home, and a unique finale.

"The last race would be at my own track meet, where I’d be able to do any and everything that I want," he said.

Last summer at the Paris Olympic Games, Lyles was faced faced with mixed emotions of performances. After excelling by winning the 100m gold, he was brewing in confidence to complete the double in the 200m.

Sadly, he was struck with Covid-19 two days before the final, which affected his performance and settled for the bronze medal behind Botswana's golden boy Letsile Tebogo and silver medalist Kenny Bednarek.

His unfortunate experience was another depressing moment down memory lane during his Olympic debut in Japan four years prior, where he battled depression and finished with a bronze medal in the 200m.

Now, Lyles is able to joke about his age. "Uh oh, I’m getting up there, aren’t I," he chuckled. "Last year in Paris was the halfway mark for me... I was like, ‘OK, I’m on the other half of the hill’.

"If I really push everything I want out of every year and month and week and day that I have, I don’t think I’ll ever regret any of the years," he explained.

Lyles' sustained excellence is keeping a new generation of sprinters at bay. He expressed a broader concern for the state of track and field.

"The future of sprinting is hazy right now," he stated seriously. "There is so much talent, there is so much room for growth and there are so many new personalities coming up, but I feel the way that the sport is right now, nobody knows which direction to go in."

He clarified that this uncertainty isn't just about who will be the next track superstar but extends to "everything involving athletics."

The American speedster suggests that the sport's growth is being stifled by athletes' concerns over public perception and a sometimes-toxic online fan environment.

"Somebody was asking me to give some advice to Letsile [Tebogo] and I was like, ‘to be honest, you’ve just got to be yourself’," Lyles explained.

He elaborated on the pressure athletes face, stating, "We want to come out here and be showmen and give our greatest performances, but we also want to be ourselves. I think that sometimes we’re not allowed to be ourselves out of fear of how people will perceive us, knowing that this is just a sport."

"It’s just a sport, guys," he added. "Nobody’s dying at the end of the day. Let’s enjoy these moments as much as possible."

With the 2025 season done and dusted, Lyles will aim to be back in better shape next year, giving back to the sport he loves as he continues creating his own legacy before retirement.