"I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression" - Noah Lyles opens up on struggles after 100m gold at Paris Olympics

By Bhavin Shivaa

Modified Aug 10, 2024 07:24 GMT

Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles took to social media platform X to post an inspiring message after winning the men's 100 final, finishing 0.005 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Kishane Thompson. The duo shared the same time of 9.79 seconds at the Paris Olympics.

This is Lyles' first Olympic gold and second medal after his bronze in the men's 200m at Tokyo 2020. His triumph marks USA's first gold in the men's 100m event since 2004 when Justin Gatlin won it in Athens.

Soon after his nail-biting victory, Lyles posted a message on X (formerly Twitter):

"I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!" (via X)

The American's impressive journey to the top only seems more astounding once you find out about the several conditions he has been battling since childhood, mental and physical, including asthma.

Lyles has struggled with asthma from a young age, with the sprinter revealing that he frequented the hospital as a child:

"From about three to four, all the way to about seven years old, I was dealing with asthma and asthma attacks seriously, like in the hospital maybe every third night; coughing fits, constantly sick because my immune system was weak," Lyles recalled. (via Economic Times)

Asthma, a condition in which your airways narrow and swell, often makes breathing difficult and leads to shortness of breath. To be the fastest man in the world and an Olympic champion in the same year is no mean feat, but to do so while nursing a condition that directly blocks your path is thus an even greater achievement.

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Noah Lyles on his mental health and how he deals with challenges

Noah Lyles at the Wanda Diamond League London Athletics Meet 2024 | Getty Images

Being one of the best athletes in a sport requires sacrifices from athletes, and can include one's mental well-being. Noah Lyles is no stranger to it and has previously shared details with the media about his mental health. Speaking about his diagnoses, he had said:

"Around second grade, I was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia, which made standardized testing and even simple tasks like spelling tests extremely difficult," Lyles noted. (via Economic Times)

Lyles has also suffered from depression in the past and has taken anti-depressants for the same. He had shared this on his X handle:

"Recently I decided to get on antidepressant medication. That was one of the best decisions I have made in a while. Since then I have been able to think with out the dark undertone in mind of nothing matters. Thank you God for mental Health."

Despite all this, the American sprinter has remained persistent and has overcome many hurdles to win an Olympic gold. The story of Lyles can undoubtedly inspire many aspiring athletes in the future.