Noah Lyles Embarks on Historic Journey to Match Usain Bolt’s 100m and 200m Double

The first-round 200-meter heat was essentially a smooth affair, unlike Noah Lyles’ tumultuous 100-meter title race the previous night.

SAINT-DENIS, France — Noah Lyles stepped back onto the track Monday night, aiming for his second Olympic gold medal. He effortlessly completed his first-round 200-meter heat in 20.19 seconds.

Lyles outpaced defending Olympic champion Andre De Grasse of Canada by .11 seconds. The run was a typical, drama-free curve race, starkly contrasting his nail-biting 100-meter title race the night before.

In that 100-meter race, Lyles narrowly defeated Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by .005 seconds. The race was hailed as one of the greatest ever on an Olympic track. Both Lyles and fellow sprinter Fred Kerley were scheduled to receive their medals later in the evening.

Americans Erriyon Knighton and Kenny Bednarek also advanced in the 200 meters, clocking times of 20.00 and 19.97 seconds, respectively. Bednarek could pose a formidable challenge to Lyles in the final, set for Thursday.

Lyles is on a mission to become the first man to achieve a 100-200 double since Usain Bolt’s third such feat at the Rio Games in 2016. The last American to accomplish this was Carl Lewis in 1984 in Los Angeles.

Lyles’ race occurred while the men’s pole vault final was halfway through, with Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis in contention to defend his Olympic title.

Gabby Thomas, the favorite in the women’s 200 meters now that Jamaica’s world champion Shericka Jackson has pulled out, was preparing for her semifinal heat.

Finals for the women’s 800 meters and 5,000 meters were also on the schedule. In the latter event, Faith Kipyegon was aiming for an unprecedented women’s 1,500-5,000 double at the Olympics.