Is Noah Lyles actually faster than Usain Bolt? 3D Simulation puts theory to the test

Is Noah Lyles actually faster than Usain Bolt? 3D Simulation puts theory to the test

Mark Kinyanjui 22:00 - 24.08.2024

A simulation has now pitted Usain Bolt in a race against the self proclaimed "world's fastest man" Noah Lyles in both the 100 meters and 200meters

The question of whether Noah Lyles is faster than Usain Bolt has ignited debates among fans, pundits, and the media ever since Lyles began excelling in the 100 meters in 2023. 

While Bolt’s name has long been synonymous with unmatched speed and athletic brilliance, Lyles’ recent achievements have cast a shadow of doubt on Bolt’s reign as the fastest man on the planet.

Bolt’s unbreakable legacy

Usain Bolt’s legacy is one of extraordinary athleticism. With eight Olympic gold medals and multiple world records, Bolt’s status as the fastest man in history remains unchallenged. 

His record-breaking 100-meter sprint at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, where he clocked an astonishing 9.58 seconds, set an average speed of 23.35 mph. 

Additionally, Bolt’s world record in the 200 meters, with a time of 19.19 seconds, further solidified his dominance. When Bolt retired in 2017, he left a void in men’s sprinting that many attempted to fill, but none succeeded—until Noah Lyles emerged.

The rise of Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles stepped onto the world stage just as Bolt was bowing out. He quickly established himself as a formidable sprinter, winning his first Diamond League meet in 2017, claiming gold at the 2019 World Championships, and earning a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 

Lyles continued to make strides, recording a blistering 19.31 seconds in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, placing him third on the all-time leaderboard.

Lyles solidified his status as the “fastest man in the world” by winning both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

 He repeated his 100-meter victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a time of 9.79 seconds, though he settled for bronze in the 200 meters after being bested by fellow American Kenny Bednarek and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo. Lyles attributed his third-place finish to a recent bout with COVID-19, which he claimed affected his performance.

Lyles vs. Bolt: the simulation showdown

Noah Lyles has never shied away from expressing his desire to break Bolt’s records. While it remains uncertain whether he will achieve this feat, the curiosity around a head-to-head race between the two sprinters led to Motion Athlete generating a 3D simulation of such a matchup.

In the simulation, Bolt unsurprisingly outpaces Lyles in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. However, the 200-meter race reveals an intriguing aspect: Lyles begins to close the gap on Bolt in the final 50 meters, suggesting that Lyles’ ability to maintain top-end speed is among the best in history. Despite this, Bolt’s explosive start and strong performance around the curve give him the edge, with Lyles falling just 0.12 seconds short.

This isn’t the first time Bolt’s speed has been scrutinized through simulation. A virtual race between Bolt and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé, known for his blistering pace, was previously conducted. Despite Mbappé’s impressive speed of 23.6 mph, Bolt easily left him trailing, finishing with a time of 9.58 seconds compared to Mbappé’s 10.90 seconds.

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