Paris – American sprinter Noah Lyles is never alone, because he always has Noah Lyles both by and on his side; such is the architecture of the man’s personality.

Earlier this week, in his first opportunity to address the assembled media at Paris 2024, Lyles said, “if Noah Lyles is being Noah Lyles, there is nobody else.”

Whoa there, both of you. There are actually 105 other male sprinters entered in the 100-metres, the race that will determine this Olympiad’s edition of the fastest man on earth, and many of them are capable of going seriously sub-10 when the need arises.