Olympic champion Noah Lyles returns to 100m at London Diamond League

Olympic 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles is set to make a highly anticipated return to the 100-meter sprint at the London Diamond League in July. This will be his first competitive outing over the distance since securing his Olympic title last August in Paris, a victory achieved by a mere five-thousandths of a second against Jamaica's Kishane Thompson. That photo-finish final stood as the closest men’s Olympic 100m ever, with Lyles’ winning time of 9.78 seconds being the fastest since Usain Bolt’s Olympic record in 2012, and making Lyles the first American man to claim the 100m Olympic gold in two decades.

Lyles views his London appearance as a crucial stage on his journey to defending his world titles at the World Championships in Tokyo this September. He has a strong history at the London Diamond League, having triumphed in the 100m last summer with a personal best of 9.81 seconds—his sole Diamond League appearance before the Paris Olympics. In 2023, he also famously won the 200m in London, extending his remarkable 200m winning streak to 17 consecutive races at the time.

This formidable 200m unbeaten run ultimately spanned 26 races over three years, concluding between the delayed 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Games, where he secured bronze medals in both Olympic finals.

The early part of 2025 has been relatively subdued for the 27-year-old sprint sensation. He notably opted out of major indoor championships, choosing instead to focus on longer distances, including his professional debut in the 400m in April. A recent "tight ankle" forced his withdrawal from the Atlanta City Games, but Lyles is exercising caution due to his automatic entries (wildcards) for both the 100m and 200m at the upcoming Tokyo World Championships, earned from his double gold triumph in Budapest two summers ago.

Lyles is now aiming to achieve a historic feat: becoming the first man since Usain Bolt in 2013 and 2015 to win the 100m and 200m double at consecutive World Championships. As he prepares to unleash his full speed in London, the athletics world eagerly awaits his performance, a critical test before his pursuit of further global glory in Tokyo.