So Shock: He’s better than Usain Bolt” Nijel Amos on why Noah Lyles’ influence in the sport goes way beyond Usain Bolt’s rich legacy” here is Amos key qualities preference…
Nijel Amos, the 800m standout from Botswana, highlighted the one attribute that sets Noah Lyles apart from Usain Bolt and gave an explanation of why he has a great deal of respect for the man.
The former silver medallist at the Olympics said that Noah Lyles has revolutionized athletics by raising awareness of the sport among a wider audience and by elevating his rivals, such as fellow countryman Letsile Tebogo and Jamaican sensation Kishane Thompson, to a prominent position.
Nijel Amos stated that Usain Bolt was just renowned for his performance on the track but none of his competitors were known but with Noah Lyles, his life on and off the track is known by many.
“He is a great energy to have in the sport…Usain Bolt took the results of the sport to the people, Noah Lyles is taking the sport to the people, the next athlete and everyone around the sport. Usain Bolt was the fastest man in the world, everyone knew that but who was he racing next to? It was never about that but Noah is bringing the sport, people are talking about athletics, they are talking about sports,” Nijel Amos told the Punchline podcast.
“I think it’s a great energy to have in the sport and a great marketing tool that came at the right time now we are having protégé trying to fight to get to that level, Letsile is there so it’s going to be a great show for the two athletes for all these years which should really build a great competition and healthy one for sure,” he added.
Going into next season, Nijel Amos believes Noah Lyles is still the man to beat despite Letsile Tebogo’s dominance in the short distance from the Paris Olympic Games to the series of Diamond League Meetings he has competed in.
At the Olympics, Letsile Tebogo stunned three-time world 200m champion Noah Lyles to take the crown but Nijel Amos believes the latter will be back to take what is rightfully his next season.
“He will still be there, the guy is a 19.3 runner and for me, I’d never put money for Noah to win the 100m, for the 200m, I would have put money for him but not 100m. I still have a lot of respect for him and I’m still waiting for him to come back to the level where Letsile is in and see competition,” Nijel Amos disclosed.
