Noah Lyles Saves 26-Year-Old Jamaican Rival From Negative Moment at World Athletics Championships

Being one of the best sprinters in the world doesn’t come easy. Noah Lyles, for one, knows all about it. Before he won bronze in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Lyles went down a spiral of depression and anxiety. Change of scenery, the wins, nothing helped. Motivated to return to the track, he took medications and therapies. Once he secured the medal, he made sure everyone knew what he went through. And so, he boldly confessed how it is OK to not feel good. Fast forward to the 2025 World Athletics Championships’ 200m heat, and Lyles used his own experience to help his competitor.

Sitting in the call room before the heat with Canada’s Andre de Grasse, Lyles noticed his Jamaican rival, Christopher Taylor, visibly struggling with pre-race anxiety. The 26-year-old is a talented 400m sprinter but showed up for a 200m event. However, he was not confident in himself or the race. Just then, the biggest advice Lyles could’ve given to the Jamaican is something he has used time and again himself– what you have doesn’t define you. Recounting the interaction in his post-race interview, Lyles said, “Oh yeah, we were in the call room, and me and Andre were sitting next to each other, and [Taylor] was on the other side of Andre.

“Andre was like, ‘Hey man, why do you look nervous?’ He was like, ‘I am nervous.’ I’m like, ‘Oh bro, there ain’t nothing to be nervous about; it’s just a first round, it’s just another 200.’ He’s like, ‘How do you not be nervous?’ I said, ‘Well, you can start by uncrossing your hands and relaxing your jaw and just realize it’s another 200; you’ll be good.’ He’s like, ‘Just do what your coach said. Your coach is probably gonna… your coach knows best.’ I’m like, ‘I’m my own coach. Do what you said; I’m pretty sure you know best.’”

Noah Lyles’ advice was grounded in his own experiences and the mindset that has propelled him to the top of the sport. Having faced immense pressure himself—including competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics with COVID-19—Lyles understood the mental challenges athletes endure. His words were not just technical but psychological, urging Taylor to trust his preparation and embrace the moment.

The impact was immediate: Although Taylor had the reaction time of 0.184, the slowest in his heat, he eased into the race. With a timing of 20.26, the Jamaican secured third place behind the leading Lyles and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, advancing to the next round. Interestingly, de Grasse was also part of the same heat, but his 20.30 mark fell short of securing a place in the next round. Lyles recalled what he said to Taylor after the race, “We got to the end of the race, and he got third. I’m like, ‘See, it’s just another 200; now you just get ready for the next one.’”

This act of camaraderie highlights Lyles’ growth as a leader in track and field and in his advocacy for mental resilience. Taylor, too, did not shy away from showing gratitude. In the post-race interview, Christopher Taylor confirmed the supportive encounter, revealing, “They were saying welcome to the 200, and I was a bit nervous. They could have seen it, and they were talking to me in the call room, saying just relax, have some water, just drop your shoulder, and help and take deep breaths.”

Taylor’s account underscores that the guidance from Lyles and de Grasse was not a fleeting comment but a genuine, multi-faceted intervention aimed at calming his nerves with practical, physical, and psychological techniques. His concluding remark showed his appreciation as he further said, “So you know when they came out and said that I actually qualified, they said, ‘Welcome to the 200 and all the best for the next round.’”

To realize that Taylor might have had a negative moment due to his anxiety, but the advice from de Grasse and Lyles also saved him points to the camaraderie the athletes have outside of the competition. This act of sportsmanship from Lyles, a reigning champion, demonstrates a profound level of respect and empathy that transcends national rivalries. Now, Taylor has to show that he is indeed ready for “just another 200.”