Noah Lyles’ mother was deeply moved following her son’s momentous gold medal victory in the men’s 100m sprint.
Keisha Caine Bishop was in tears as Lyles triumphed in a fiercely competitive race on Sunday, finishing just 0.005 seconds ahead with a time of 9.79.
The 27-year-old athlete shared a touching moment with his family, as he ran over to his mother, who affectionately exclaimed, ‘You did it! Oh my god, you’re incredible.’
She continued, ‘Oh my god, you’re so blessed. I couldn’t be more proud of you. I’m so proud. I’m so proud.’
He also hugged his girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield, and his sister, Abby, before heading back to the track to continue his celebration.
Noah Lyles’ mom Keisha Caine Bishop was emotional after witnessing her son’s victory in the 100m race.
Noah Lyles is the first American in 20 years to secure the gold in the men’s 100M final.
Lyles edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who took the silver medal, while fellow American Fred Kerley secured the bronze.
The Florida native has openly addressed the challenges he faced to reach the pinnacle of athletics, having battled bullying and severe asthma throughout his life.
In a recent interview with TIME, he reflected on feeling ‘so empty’ when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, which greatly impacted his health.
‘I was barely able to speak,’ Lyles shared. ‘I felt exhausted all the time. Even the act of thinking was taxing. It was as if I was in a continuous asthma attack.’
He further explained, ‘You know there’s more capacity in your lungs, but you can’t physically use the muscles necessary to take that breath.’
He narrowly defeated Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in Paris, clocking a time of 9.79 seconds.
Lyles has been vocal about his journey of overcoming bullying and asthma to achieve success.
As a child, Lyles struggled with severe asthma, which made him avoid toys or stuffed animals since they would collect dust and exacerbate his condition. He often had a cough resembling a bark, leading many to mistakenly think he was a dog from a distance.
His mother recalled a moment from her work when someone remarked, ‘Could somebody take their dog out?’
Diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia in his youth, Lyles also faced relentless bullying in school.
‘[It was] an emotional onslaught; that’s what truly breaks one down,’ he admitted openly.
Nevertheless, he has risen to the peak of athletics and earned the title of the fastest man in the world.
