Noah Lyles vs. Usain Bolt: Comparing how fast USA track star is to Jamaican Olympic legend

Blink, and you may miss Noah Lyles when he's running.

The Team USA sprinter is one of the fastest men on the planet. The Tokyo bronze medalist in the 200m dash has his eyes set on his first Olympic gold medal as he competes in his second Olympics.

Lyles has won almost every top international competition in the 200m sprint — with the exception of the Olympics. The 27-year-old track star won the 2022 World Championships, the 2023 World Championships and soundly in a spot in Paris by setting an Olympic trials record ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.

The Virginia native owns the U.S. record in the 200m event, and his personal best trails just two other athletes in that category. One of those two just so happens to be one of the greatest Olympians of all time — Usain Bolt.

The Jamaican sprinter was the 200m champion at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics before he elected to hang up his sneakers. He owns the record for the fastest time in the event — a mark that Lyles undoubtedly has his sights set to break.

Just how fast is Lyles compared to Bolt? The Sporting News compares the two sprinters and their history.

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Noah Lyles vs. Usain Bolt

There are very, very few people in the world that can confidently say they are faster than Lyles.

Bolt, 37, is one of them — although in fairness to Lyles, the retired Jamaican sensation can say that about quite literally anyone.

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist owns the fastest time in the world in both the 100m and 200m dash. Lyles is close in the 200, ranking third in the world and the best time out of any American, and he is 17th in the world in the 100.

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Here is how the two's best times in their respective events compare against one another:

Lyles also has a ways to go in terms of Olympic medals. There is a good chance he will never catch up to Bolt's legacy, but you can never say never, especially as athletes continue to be stronger and faster year after year.

Here is how the medal counts compare for the two sprinters, as Lyles begins his 2024 Olympics.