Although it is unlikely that anyone will be able to match Usain Bolt’s charm and star quality, there is one sprinter who might be able to take his mantle as the biggest name in the sport Noah Lyles holds all of the qualities required to become America’s next Olympic sprint champion.
Lyles is the favorite to win multiple track and field gold medals in this summer in Tokyo. Bolt is the only man to break 19.7 seconds in the 200-meter dash, something Lyles did four times in 2018.
Then, in 2019, he captured World Championship gold medals in the 200 and the 4 x 100 m relay. While other names like Justin Gatlin could potentially be on the roster for Team USA at these Games, Lyles is the one set to pop as a top Olympic speaker and endorsement star.
One of the things that might draw people to Lyles is his very open and real battle with depression. He shared on social media that he has turned to therapy and medication in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, a postponed 2020 Olympics and increased racial tensions in the U.S.
The way he has explained his story connects with people and opens an avenue for him to help as a mental health speaker.
“I couldn’t get my needs out,” Lyles told the Olympic Channel. “I need to be active, I need personal connections, I need to be able to touch people… that’s a love language and something that people need and I’m definitely one of those people and I wasn’t able to get it.”
In addition to dealing with everyday life, Lyles also regularly talks about the importance a proper mindset has in his success on the track. Being able to post many significant achievements at a young age and narrowly miss out as a high schooler on making the 2016 U.S. Track and Field Team is more mind than body in his opinion.
“A lot of people don’t understand that they can tap into the idea of, ‘If I have a strong mindset, even when my body is down, I can make it do something, said Lyles.”
If you are trying to book Noah Lyles as a speaker or any other mental health speaker, contact Athlete Speakers today. We are the industry leader when it comes to hiring sports stars for speaking engagements, endorsements, or appearances. Please fill out our Online Booking Request Form or 1-800-916-6008 to start the process!
