Noah Lyles dedicates his 100m Olympic victory to late nhigh school coach Rashawn Jackson

"That one was for you" - Noah Lyles dedicates 100m Olympic gold to late high school coach

Modified Aug 05, 2024 05:16 GMT

Noah Lyles dedicated his glorious 100m victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics to his late high school coach Rashawn Jackson. Lyles clinched his first Olympic gold medal in the men's 100m.

Lyles, who confidently asserted that he would bag two gold medals in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics has been successful in achieving one milestone, in what can be called a breathtaking 100m final. He claimed the gold medal in the tight photo-finish final after clocking 9.79(.784) seconds, securing a thread-thin narrow lead of 0.005 over Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, who clocked 9.79(.789) seconds.

Following his career's most illustrious victory, Lyles honored his late high school coach Jackson with a heartfelt tribute, who passed away earlier this year. Coach Jackson solidified Lyles' foundation at Alexandria City High School.

"Hey Coach Rashawn, that one was for you RIP," the Olympic champion wrote.

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According to Talksport, in an interview with the reporters, Lyles wished his coach Jackson was alive to watch him race at the Olympics.

"I thought he was going to be here to see it, I'm going to be honest," he said. "But I know that he's watching, but I really thought he was going to be here in the flesh."

When will Noah Lyles compete next at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Noah Lyles looks on during the Men's 100m Semi-Final during the Olympic Games 2024 at Stade de France in Paris, France. (Photo by Getty Images)

Noah Lyles will next compete in his pet event, the 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lyles recorded his personal best time of 19.31 seconds in the 200m event in 2022 during the World Athletics Championships held at the home arena Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The American sprinter recorded his season's best 200m during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials by clocking a stunning 19.53 seconds.

Although Lyles is poised to be the frontrunner in the 200m in Paris, he will lock horns with defending champion Andre De Grasse, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, and other elite sprinters with the likes of Erriyon Knighton, Joseph Fahnbulleh, Letsile Tebogo, and Zharnel Hughes.

The preliminary rounds of the men's 200m are slated for August 5, 2024, at 19:55 Paris Time (1:55 pm E.T). The semi-final of the event is scheduled for August 7, 2024, at 20:02 (2:02 p.m. ET) Paris Time with the final round on the following day at 20:30 Paris Time (2:30 p.m. ET).

Noah Lyles will vie in the 200m to transform his Tokyo Olympics bronze medal into gold.