A few years ago, when Noah Lyles’ girlfriend and Jamaican sprinter Junelle Bromfield moved to Florida, his mother, Keisha, would do everything to support her. In fact, Keisha would drive 40 minutes every day to take Bromfield to her training. And when the latter finally made it to her first Paris Olympics to represent her native country, Lyles’ mother painted her nails with flags of both America and Jamaica. Even the t-shirt she wore had a pair of hands joining to make a heart. On one side was the American flag, and on the other was the Jamaican flag. And her love for Jamaica doesn’t just stop at Bromfield.

In the ongoing Tokyo World Athletics Championships, Noah Lyles has had a rollercoaster ride. First, he lost the 100m crown and ended up in third position behind Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson. Then, he won his fourth consecutive 200m title. In that event, fellow American Kenneth Bednarek finished as a runner-up, and Jamaica’s Bryan Levell came in third position. But none of that changed how Keisha felt about the Jamaican athletes as she shared, “I love Jamaica. It’s a beautiful island, that’s why we got married there. I think it’s amazing what Jamaica produces,” she told AFP’s Leo Hudson.

She added, “You know, it’s such a tiny island, but they has so much talent and so much pride. And I’m so proud of the guys who got first and second in the 100, Kishane and Oblique. And I think that Jamaica has overcome so many adversities. You know, they’ve only been independent since the 1960s, I believe. And just how far they’ve come, the resiliency, the perseverance, the hard work, I love it. I’m very proud of Jamaica.” 

Beyond the track, Bishop shared a personal milestone that intertwined with international athletics. Noah’s engagement to long-time girlfriend Bromfield. The couple, dating since 2022, announced their engagement on October 13, 2024, with a video showing Lyles proposing beside a lit sign that read, “Will you marry me?” Bishop described this as a significant transition for the family. She then went down memory lane, reminiscing about her best days, having met and married Kevin Lyles after their collegiate track careers.

While Noah faced defeat in the 100m, the presence of his mother, the support of his family, and his hard work made him secure his fourth straight 200m win at the World Athletics Championship. And now it is not just the medals that the Lyles family would be celebrating, but also the upcoming D-day of the couple. And through the years, Noah Lyles has supported his girlfriend when her loyalty to Jamaica was questioned.

Noah Lyles stood by his fiancée amid backlash from Jamaican fans

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Jamaican sprinter and Lyles’ girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield, confronted intense scrutiny from her own countrymen. She became a target of online vitriol when Lyles seemingly revealed details regarding the inner workings of the Jamaican training camp, and as she openly supported Lyles in his campaigns. But he addressed the controversy directly, asserting, “The most impressive thing I’ve seen recently is how she’s dealt with the pure disrespect and hatred towards her from her own country. This woman has been attacked by people who have never met her, heard her name before, never seen her smile, or heard what she believes in.”

Bromfield, on the other hand, responded to the backlash with calmness. She even sought divine guidance, sharing a verse from the Bible on her socials. Despite being a bronze medalist in the 4x400m relay and proving her commitment to Jamaican athletics, Lyles’ insights were enough to fuel the public debate. The Jamaican, too, had to prove her loyalty as she recently wrote, “I’ve always been the kind of teammate who gives ,whether that’s helping someone with their hair the night before my own race (free of cost ) or encouraging friends who may even be competing against Noah. Patriotism is more than wearing colors or waving a flag, it’s shown in service, in love, and in the way I represent Jamaica in my everyday life.”

This chapter, before the Paris Olympics, indeed, turned out quite stressful for Junelle back then. However, as it appears, the athletes and the track community have now left the chaos behind. And as Hudson told Keisha, Jamaica loves her. And we can hope they love her son, too.