"Noah Lyles right now has so much to choose from" - Justin Gatlin anticipates Paris Olympics gold medalist's options after victorious 2024 season

Justin Gatlin recently anticipated the next opportunities for Noah Lyles following the latter's victorious Olympic season. Lyles secured two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Months after his three-peat victory at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, the American sprinter clocked an impressive 9.79 (.784) seconds to earn the lead in the 100m over Jamaica's Kishane Thompson at the French capital. He further bagged a bronze medal in the men's 200m, posting 19.70 seconds.

In his latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin spoke about the future options for Lyles, claiming that he would love to see the 27-year-old continue to excel in the 200m, where he previously clocked 19.31 seconds.

"Noah right now has so much to choose from going into 2025," Gatlin said. "I mean he's the world champion in the 100m. He backed up and became the Olympic champion at 100m. He's also the world champion at 200m. He ran 19.30."

"What do you do now right going into the world championships? Do you defend your 200m title? Do you defend your 100m title? Do you try to defend both? I think personally I would love to see him continue that path of what 19:3 and beyond," he added.

“What made you pick track and field" - Justin Gatlin on Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian's 776 Invitational

Justin Gatlin questions Alexis Ohanian on the 776 Invitational. (Source: Getty)

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian announced the 776 Invitational, women's highest-paid prize money in the world in June 2024 along with multiple-time Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas.

Ditching the traditional prize money system, the top six finishers will be awarded a cash prize, with the first two finishers bagging $60,000 and $25,000, respectively. In the same episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin expressed his curiosity about Ohanian's interest in track and field.

“I would love to ask him what made you pick track and field because obviously Serena plays tennis," Justin Gatlin said at 19:10. "He has so many other opportunities to be able to pick other sports that get highlighted over track and field what was his connection with track and field. What was his connection with track and field to even think about putting this meet on?”

The 776 Invitational, which will feature prominent female athletes, including Gabby Thomas, Alexis Holmes, and Faith Kipyegon is slated for September 26, 2024, at the Icahn Stadium in New York.