WCH Tokyo 25 brushstroke (© World Athletics)
Quotes from the men’s 200m medallists at a press conference at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Friday.
Noah Lyles (USA) – gold
On his winning time:
“I wanted to run faster. Truthfully, I came here with the idea of going for my US record. It just didn't happen.”
On not being in front after the first 100m:
“All my 200m wins come in the last 100m, after never being anywhere close to first position from the start. If I am anywhere near the front of the pack coming off the turn I always feel OK. I know I have been here before. I know what to do.”
On running the 100m and 200m:
“I’m going to use these world championships as a springboard for doubling at the Olympics. I had to prove to myself that I could do it at the world championships, and now I consider myself a doubler.
“As we get closer to LA, I want to be able to start to build towards it and be in the best position to double there. Having multiple medals in both events is pretty good. I would like to continue that way.”
On his mental preparation:
“I got a little bit of PTSD coming into these championships. I’ve been to two Olympics and they did not go as planned so me and my therapist had a lot of talks about the strategy. We used the reference of jumping out of a plane – you either do it or you don’t. But if you don’t jump out of the plane, you don’t win the race.
“I was coming in with that mindset. And having such an amazing crowd – I wish I could take this crowd everywhere I go.”
On being a role model:
“I did not start this journey to become a role model. I started for selfish reasons, I wanted to be the best and was willing to do anything to become the best.
“But as you’re go on, you start realise that you are creating a groove and you notice other people are following it. Overall, it’s such a blessing to have so many kids look up to me.”
On the challenges of this year:
“It’s been a difficult year, both on and off the track. Going into work mode, balancing post-Olympic depression and going to high school meetings just to get races in.
“I have been on such a great trajectory and then I plateaued, causing a lot of stress not for myself but for my whole team.
“There have been a lot of days with rough practices where I was just doing the worst starts but also some really good performances. I constantly had to believe that I have done it in the past and I can still do it now.”
On the support of his girlfriend, Junelle:
“Having Janelle this year has been such a blessing. It’s so important who you choose for your partner. It would have been a very rough year if she wasn’t here.”
On whether this feels like redemption after losing at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
“I wouldn’t say it feels like redemption. I feel like the Olympics and world championships are parallel events, so they are very different feelings. I don’t think any amount of world championship wins in the 200m will ever make up for the empty feeling I have about missing that Olympic 200m gold.”
Kenneth Bednarek (USA) – silver
On taking silver after placing fourth in the 100m:
“I'll take this. I mean, it's bitter sweet. In the 100m, I didn't put my best foot down. You saw what happened. I was quite upset but then I committed to the 200m.
“I already knew what I can do, so I just wanted to run well. I've been in this situation many times.
“Coming back and being able to show you what I’m capable of, that's all I can ask for. I can only look at this as positive and get better for the next year.”
Bryan Levell (JAM) – bronze
On his bronze medal:
“It’s a great feeling, it’s my first championships so I am very proud of myself.”
On how it feels competing against more experienced athletes:
“It gives me a good feeling knowing that I’ve come all this way and given it my best and produced a really good competition.”
