"Depression had transformed me into someone I didn't even recognize" - Noah Lyles shares his inspiring journey from Tokyo to Paris Olympics

Noah Lyles narrated his success story through a blueprint ahead of the highly anticipated Paris Olympics. From asthma attacks during the early years and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic to claiming the reigning 100m and 200m position, Lyles' journey is nothing less than inspiring.

Lyles had to struggle with asthma throughout his childhood, making it difficult to even have toys since dust accumulation would be harmful to him. His cough used to worsen so much that it would get mistaken for a 'bark'.

His mother, Keisha Caine, was once asked to take him out of a conference she attended since people mistook his cough for a dog's bark.

"'One day I was on a conference call for work. And the supervisor said, "Could somebody take their dog out?"' she shared (via TIME)

Although he swept the 200m win at the 2019 World Championships, he 'could barely talk' and felt like he had a 'constant asthma attack' in the following days. He mentally struggled to 'fight' in 'an empty room' at the delayed COVID-19-marred Tokyo Olympics, where the absence of his brother, Josephus, also affected him significantly, according to the TIME.

The Player's Tribune recently released a narration of Lyles but in a blueprint. He took the world on a journey that saw him hit the lows in 2021 and reach the pinnacle of success, becoming the world champion in 100m and 200m.

"This year at the Olympics, I'm ready... I've always known I had this incredible talent. But there have always been forces that try to keep me from using it. When I was growing up, it was asthma. And looking back at who I was in 2021, depression had transformed me into someone I didn't even recognize," Noah Lyles said in the blueprint series.

He earned the 200m bronze at the Tokyo Olympics when he was only vying for the gold podium.

Noah Lyles - "I needed to feel all of it"

Although Lyles faced multiple roadblocks, he issued that he needed to feel all of it to get the motivation of proving himself. His blueprint series released by The Players' Tribune, captured his narration:

"I've used it all to build myself into what I'm today. Even if I could, I'd never go back back and warn myself of what's to come. I needed to feel all of it."

Lyles ran the 100m in 9.83s at the 2024 US Olympic Trials and earned the Paris qualification. Soon after, he clocked a blistering 19.53s to take the 200m victory and earn the second Olympic seat. The reigning 100m world champion will look to bag three golds at the 2024 Games.