“I Wasn’t Having Fun”- USA 200m Bronze Medallist Noah Lyles Reveals Mental Problems Heading Into Tokyo Olympics 2020

Noah Lyles added a powerful Olympic bronze medal to his resume as a observe star final week as he completed third within the males’s 200m finals in Tokyo. Though he was closely favoured to win gold, Lyles was crushed to the punch by fellow American Kenny Bednarek (Silver), and Canada’s Andre de Grasse (Gold).

Regardless of what many name an upset, Lyles is joyful together with his efficiency, primarily as a result of he is aware of what he went through1 to get on the rostrum. Including on to a problem that has taken the forefront within the Tokyo Video games, the American revealed that he was very near quitting observe earlier this 12 months.

“I all the time mentioned the day I wasn’t having enjoyable with this sport, I’m going to depart it,” Lyles was quoted saying by The Washington Submit. “And for just a little bit, I wasn’t having enjoyable this 12 months. I did need to depart, I needed to decide. I used to be like, I bought to get higher, I can’t let this management me.”

Lyles by no means spoke this overtly about his psychological well being points however determined to make use of the platform given to him to specific his ideas. With Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Caeleb Dressel, and others highlighting it as a serious challenge, the bronze medallist realised he had open ears.

“I’ve all the time talked about psychological well being in my profession,” he mentioned, talking to TODAY. “And, now, as I bought increasingly more in style, I bought increasingly more consideration, folks watching me. So I really feel that I used to be capable of attain an excellent larger viewers.”

Noah Lyles has two therapists working with him

Lyles thanks his rapid household and associates for being supportive and serving to him by means of each tough patch. He revealed that he doesn’t see one, however two therapists to deal with his issues.

“I’ve been very lucky sufficient to have my mom, who’s been in remedy most of her life and he or she bought me in very early,” he mentioned. “So I now have two therapists, one for my private life and one for my sports activities life.”

There’s a gentle on the finish of the tunnel, nonetheless. Noah Lyles admitted that he has stopped taking anti-depression tablets which he began utilizing final 12 months. The athlete could not have gained gold, however the bronze medal is sufficient to gasoline him to organize for gold in 2024. Lyles might be again, stronger not solely bodily but additionally mentally.

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