"It's hard at times but you are a game changer" - Noah Lyles shares heartfelt message for girlfriend Junelle Bromfield as Jamaican faces hate comments

Modified Sep 30, 2024 15:26 GMT

Jamaican sprinter Junelle Bromfield spoke her heart out at the interview conducted by Simone Clarke-Cooper on her podcast show 'Sim Soul Sessions'. The former Olympic bronze medalist recounted the cyberbullying she had to endure before and after the Paris Olympics, and how she overcame it through therapy and strong moral support from her boyfriend, Noah Lyles and his mother, Keisha Caine Bishop.

On the same show, Bromfield received video messages from Caine Bishop and Lyles, who lauded her tenacity and her resilient spirit. Lyles particularly mentioned about her resilience, and how he is proud of her. He said:

"I'm just here to probably vocalize some of the ways that I feel that you've shown your resilience and shown your strength and it's hard at times I know, but you know, you're a game changer you might not want to be, that's what you are." [35:28 onwards]

Lyles added how he admired Bromfield's ability to bounce back from the setbacks. He said:

"....Now everything that God has put in your life, has been one step forward to moving, to inspiring the next generation, and I know it's uncomfortable, but he prepared you for this moment, and I've seen the way that you fought through..."

Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield recently visited Lyles' hometown in Alexandria, where the Olympic champion was given a hero's welcome by the residents. As of now, Bromfield is in the USA, staying with her boyfriend Lyles.

Junelle Bromfield on her struggles as a track and field athlete

Junelle Bromfield recounts struggles of a track and field athlete [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source: Getty]

In the interview with Simone Clark-Cooper, the Jamaican sprinter Junelle Bromfield also opened up on her struggles as a sprinter, and how everything is not a bed of roses in the world of track and field.

Bromfield said:

"I feel as if even now, not feel as if, I know even now like me and my family is at odds with that because I feel as if there's just so much you can do, and when people see you at a certain level they expect that you can do the same for them, but that's not the case because track and field is not a sport that basically pays a million. Most of the athletes have to work after track and field." (8:01 onwards)

Bromfield also recounted the relentless hate she had to face before and after the Paris Olympics. She added:

"Honestly, I would say, I'm not looking for forgiveness especially from the people who came in my DM, talking about my family, talking about my mom. Those are the people asking for forgiveness and I'm like how are you going to forgive somebody who did not do anything wrong." [12:57 onwards]

Junelle Bromfield won a bronze medal as part of the Jamaican women's 4x400m relay team at the Tokyo Olympics. At the Paris Olympics, she took part in the women's 400m event and the mixed 4x400m relay event. While Bromfield got eliminated in the semifinals of the 400m event, the Jamaican team reached the finals of the mixed 4x400m relay event, where they ended up in fifth position.