On Thursday night, Noah Lyles broke an American record that stood for 26 years and was held by an Olympic legend.
Defending his title, Lyles ran the 200 meters in 19.31 seconds at the World Championships in Eugene, OR.
That breaks the American record of 19.32 seconds set by Michael Johnson — four-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time World Championships gold medalist — in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.
It’s one thing to read about running the 200m in 19.31, but it’s even more incredible to see it in action.
Check out this blazing, record-breaking speed from Lyles:
NOAH LYLES HAS BROKEN THE AMERICAN RECORD IN THE 200!@usatf | #WorldAthleticsChamps | #WCHOregon22 pic.twitter.com/xETIG1Qffm
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 22, 2022
It’s the fourth-fastest time ever, trailing only Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. Bolt ran the 200m in 19.19 seconds (a world record that will be hard to ever top, and that time feels especially insane after how fast Lyles looked on Thursday night), while Blake did so in 19.26 seconds.
Lyles’ 200m American record left the sports fans in awe. Here’s a peek at the reaction to Lyles’ 19.31-second dash:
Michael Johnson, from Hayward Field, on Noah Lyles breaking his American 200m record from the 1996 Olympics: "I knew that he was going to run faster than 19.32 some day. To be honest, when you've held the world record, you don't really focus on the national record." pic.twitter.com/jezQEukfaZ
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 22, 2022
Noah Lyles repeats as world 200m champion in 19.31 seconds, breaks Michael Johnson's golden shoes American record from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics by one hundredth. Erriyon Knighton (bronze) becomes, at 18, the youngest individual spring medalist in worlds history. pic.twitter.com/HW90QFjFLy
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 22, 2022
BACK 🥇 TO 🥇 BACK ⚡️ @LylesNoah defends his 200m world title in 19.31!
#WorldAthleticsChamps x #WCHOregon22 pic.twitter.com/tButEhqTqS
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 22, 2022
At the IAAF World Championships, Noah Lyles wins his second straight gold medal in the 200 meters with a time of 19.31 seconds.
That breaks the American record of 19.32 seconds set by Michael Johnson in 1996, 11.5 months before Lyles was born. pic.twitter.com/X7qyiG8GAa
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 22, 2022
Noah Lyles 19.32!!!!!!!!!! HOLY BUTTERMILK PANCAKES!!!
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 22, 2022
Congrats to USA men for sweeping the podium in the men’s 200 finals and a special congrats to Noah Lyles for breaking Michael Johnson’s American record in the 200 of 19.32 in a winning time of 19.31. USA swept 100/200 finals. Hopefully a sign of more to come 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) July 22, 2022
Congratulations to Noah Lyles for breaking the Men’s 200M record!! 19.31?? Noah, you’re a baaadddddd man! @LylesNoah
🔥🔥🔥🥵— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 22, 2022
Now… this is the same Noah Lyles y’all said don’t need to be on the 4×1. And that’s crazy.
— BIANCA KNIGHT, OLY (@MsBiancaAK) July 22, 2022
Noah Lyles 💨 19.31 200-just beat Michael Johnson’s American record!
Just incredible!!— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) July 22, 2022
Related: Sydney McLaughlin breaks her own world record in 400m hurdles
