Noah Lyles Gets Real About Challenges That Shaped 2025 Season Greatness

American sprint sensation Noah Lyles is closing out 2025 with both gratitude and perspective after a rollercoaster season that tested his physical and mental limits. 

Despite enduring a major setback earlier in the year due to a tendon injury, Lyles managed to reaffirm his status as one of the world’s best sprinters, collecting multiple medals and earning a nomination for World Athletics Male Track Athlete of the Year.

The 27-year-old’s season did not start as planned because a tendon injury kept him off the track for months, forcing him to miss high-profile meets like the Atlanta City Games and delaying his season opener until July. 

Lyles finally stepped onto the track at the Monaco Diamond League where he made a statement with a blazing 19.88 seconds in the 200m—his first race of 2025.

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Following Monaco, Lyles competed in the London and Lausanne Diamond League meets. While he did not find victory in his early 100m races—losing to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville twice—Lyles kept his eyes on the bigger prize: the World Athletics Championships. 

There, he aimed to defend both his 100m and 200m crowns. Though he fell short in the 100m, taking bronze behind Seville and fellow Jamaican Kishane Thompson, Lyles successfully defended his 200m title, once again proving his dominance over the half-lap distance.

Reflecting on the turbulent yet rewarding season, Lyles admitted that the journey wasn’t easy but ultimately fulfilling.

“Wow it’s been a crazy year but this really put in to perspective how great of a season this was. Sometimes it’s hard to look at a season as a whole when you are in it but this has really been a great season.”

Lyles’ 2025 campaign was not just about medals—it was about endurance. Battling through recovery and uncertainty, he managed to stay unbeaten in the 200m throughout the season, a feat that underscores his remarkable consistency. 

His performances culminated in gold medals in the 200m and 4x100m relay, along with a bronze in the 100m at the World Championships in Tokyo.

The sprinter’s ability to remain focused despite adversity has drawn praise from fans and peers alike. Lyles’ nomination for the World Athletics Male Track Athlete of the Year is a testament to his outstanding performance and influence within the sport. 

The American star will go head-to-head with four of the season’s best athletes for the prestigious honor.

Joining Lyles in contention for the 2025 award are France’s Jimmy Gressier, Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and fellow Americans Rai Benjamin and Cordell Tinch. Each athlete has showcased exceptional form this year across different events.

Benjamin dominated the 400m hurdles, winning the World Championship and clocking two of the top three times of the year. Gressier displayed stunning endurance on the track, clinching gold and bronze in the 10,000m and 5000m, respectively, and securing the Diamond League 3000m title.

Tinch emerged as a powerhouse in the 110m hurdles, posting four of the year’s top six performances and capturing both the World and Diamond League crowns. Wanyonyi matched that success in the 800m, sweeping titles on both global and Diamond League stages.

Lyles nomination is more than recognition but it is reflection of his perseverance and passion for the sport.

Despite the injuries, setbacks, and near misses, Noah Lyles’ 2025 season was defined by heart, resilience, and redemption—proof that even in the toughest seasons, greatness shines through.