"Junelle is not just supporting cast or here to cook meals" - Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green weigh in Noah Lyles' engagement

Former American Olympian Justin Gatlin and the retired Bahamian runner Rodney Green congratulated Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield on their engagement. They applauded Bromfield for being an established runner in her own right and not just a supportive partner to Lyles.

Following success at the Paris Olympics, where he secured two medals, the first gold of his career in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m, Lyles proposed to his long-time partner Bromfield this past Saturday, October 12, and the couple shared the news through a joint Instagram post the following day. Before getting engaged, the couple dated for more than two years, having been friends for many years before that.

"To My Future Wife I Will Love You Forever," Noah Lyles wrote in the caption.

Their engagement was met with a flood of congratulations from the track and field world and other sporting domains. Among those offering their best wishes were five-time Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin and former Bahamian runner Rodney Green, who not only extended their best wishes to the couple but also gave special recognition to Bromfield for being a prominent runner in her own right.

"She helps brings a sense of calmness to him so he can go out there and stay focused on what he has to do, so I'm happy for him man. Congratulations to y'all," Gatlin said (via Ready Set Go podcast). [27:10 onwards]

"I hope that works vice versa for them because she is an athlete too. She's not a supporting cast of, 'I'mma just be here to cook your meals.' So hopefully vice versa it works in both ways." Green added. [27:19 onwards]

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"He is looking to get the records" - Rodney Green endorses Noah Lyles' track running abilities

Noah Lyles at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Source: Getty)

Rodney Green has backed Noah Lyles in his pursuit of chasing world records set by legendary athletes like Usain Bolt. Green also voiced confidence in him to replicate his three-peat performance at the World Championships.

"Noah is more so about chasing retired athletes. And when I say retired athletes, and one of them is not retired, the retired athletes would be the top five, Usain Bolt, you [referring to Gatlin], Asafa [Powell]. He is looking to get the American record in the 100m and he is looking to try to get the world record in the 200m," Green said (via Ready Set Go podcast).

"So if his concentration areas are in these two, he had a fair shot at it last year to try and see in both years what he can do and I think they can go back and fine tune it where they can come back and try to be a triple crown champion again at the World Championships," he added (14:30 onwards).

Noah Lyles has already surpassed Usain Bolt's world record for the most sub-20 finishes in the 200m.