Noah Lyles called Paris Olympics win over Jamaican rival Oblique Seville in June

About two months before his historic photo finish to win the gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, American Noah Lyles essentially called his shot.

Lyles was coming off the best race of his career, a 9.85-second 100-meter dash at the Racers Grand Prix on June 2. But that wasn’t good enough for first place.

Instead, first place went to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who clocked a 9.82.

Even knowing the Olympics were coming up, Lyles didn’t seem stressed at all. In fact, he seemed motivated and energized. And he made a promise of sorts.

“I say every year, when I get beat y’all need to be scared as s***, because next time you see me you gone be f***** worried,” Noah Lyles told the Jamaica Observer.

“I say it every year, when I get beat, y’all better be scared as shit, because next time you see me, you gone be ____ worried!”

World 100m Champion Noah Lyles is gearing up for his next race!

After running his second fastest 100m ever in 9.85s to finish 2nd after Jamaica’s… pic.twitter.com/qVoGplnJ1x

— Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) June 2, 2024

He also took to Twitter to tweet a screenshot of the finish, with Seville looking over his shoulder at Lyles. It was a look of complete and utter confidence.

Oh yah… I’ll remember this!
See you in Paris @ObliqueSeville pic.twitter.com/cvOt5gktPG

— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) June 2, 2024

Of course, as things played out, Noah Lyles would get his revenge on Seville. Seville actually finished in last in the 100-meter dash final in Paris, clocking a 9.91 — still an absurdly fast time, of course.

Instead, it was a different Jamaican that Lyles edged out for the win by five-thousandths of a second: Kishane Thompson. Lyles clocked a 9.784 for the win, his fastest time yet. Just as promised.

He had given warning, after all.

“I feel great. I feel ready to run,” Noah Lyles said after Seville beat him out in early June. “I feel ready for everything that’s moving on from here. Ready to go to the Olympic trials. All my best races happen after the second round. But 85, I’m never going to be upset with that. My coach came here saying that I’m in PR shape, running 9.85. I’m perfectly fine with that.”

If he was fine with that, he’ll have to be thrilled with a 79. Oh yeah, and an Olympic gold medal … and the title of The World’s Fastest Man.