Noah Lyles Draws Inspiration from Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson as He Plans 2026 Build-Up to LA 2028

American sprinter and Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles has revealed his strategy for the 2026 season and beyond, as he reflected on his rivalry with Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville.

Speaking about his plans for the 2026 season, he described it as an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach as he sets his sights on the LA 2028 Games.

Noah Lyles, who has openly stated his ambition to break Usain Bolt's legendary 100m and 200m world records, believes this new mindset will push his body to unprecedented levels. The home Olympics in Los Angeles provide a powerful incentive for this shift in focus.

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"I would say I'm starting 2026 with a jump-off-the-cliff mentality. If I had to give a little more detail, it's all or nothing. There's no in-between," Noah Lyles explained in an exclusive interview with PTI in Pune, where he is a brand ambassador for the Bajaj Pune Marathon.

"There's no one foot in, one foot out. It's all or nothing. That's the type of mentality that I'm coming into 2026 with. I'm going to have such an all-or-nothing mentality in my training that it's going to demand something from my body that it has not produced before."

When asked about the fierce competition from Jamaican sprinters like Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson, Noah Lyles described the rivalry as a source of motivation rather than a difficulty.

"Everybody's here to win…I would be disappointed if you weren’t. I wouldn't call it difficult; I would call it inspiring," he said.

"When the competition is tough, that's when you get to see the best. When you can't figure out who's going to win, those are the most exciting races. But they're also the ones that I strive the best in."

Known for constantly reinventing himself, Noah Lyles stressed the importance of continuous growth. "If I become stagnant, then that's when I stop succeeding, stop progressing."

"The moment I stop growing is the moment everyone else has a chance to catch up," he explained.

"I see no reason not to reinvent myself, to strive for improvement, and to find new ways of solving problems. That's why I am constantly trying to grow."

The 28-year-old sprinter also addressed his potential participation in the inaugural Ultimate Championship, a new biennial event by World Athletics scheduled for September 2025 in Budapest. Noah Lyles stated he has not yet confirmed his involvement.

"No, I haven't confirmed my participation as of now. That's kind of just where it's standing until we have a better understanding and a better working concept with World Athletics," he said.

Noah Lyles emphasised his commitment to delivering his best performance at every event. "I'm an all-or-nothing person, so if I'm showing up to an event, you're getting my all. I don't want to show up anywhere that I can't give my everything and my showmanship, and my excitement. If you're limiting me in doing that, then I can't give myself or the fans what I believe would be the best performance."

Noah Lyles, who became the first sprinter since Usain Bolt to win a 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay treble at the 2023 World Championships, sees the Los Angeles Olympics as a prime opportunity for historic achievements.

"I would say that LA is a perfect place for great races to happen, and I'm very blessed to be able to have the Olympics show up in my lifetime on home soil," he remarked. "I'm not going to let that opportunity go by without taking advantage of it."

Looking ahead, Lyles plans to maintain a flexible approach to his competition schedule but hopes to replicate the successful preparation that led to his 100m gold and 200m bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

"Preferably, it would be a similar season to 2024 where I would have a very big indoor season to really rev up the engine for the 100m," he noted.

"I would probably do more 200s, an equal amount of 100s and 200s in that year. I think that was something that I wanted more of in 2024."

Noah Lyles is now focusing on the 2026 season as he prepares to peak for his home Olympic Games in LA in 2028.