Exclusive: Usain Bolt vs. Noah Lyles - Joseph Fahnbulleh Weighs in on Sprinting’s Changing Guard

The debate over who reigns supreme in sprinting greatness, Usain Bolt or Noah Lyles, has been inevitable. 

For years, fans and pundits have drawn parallels between the two explosive athletes, each leaving an indelible mark on the sport in their way.

Bolt first announced himself to the world with his astonishing double sprint gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He broke the then-world record in the 100m final with a 9.69-second run, famously easing up before the finish line.

A year later, he stunned the world again in Berlin, taking 0.11 seconds off his own time to set the current world mark of 9.58 seconds. This is the feat that no one has come close to replicating since. In fact, since 2012, no athlete has dipped below the 9.70-second mark.

At the Paris Olympics, Lyles clocked 9.79 seconds to win gold, a mind-blowing time, but still two-tenths slower than Bolt’s record.

Bolt revolutionized the sport with his electrifying performances and effortless showmanship, but Lyles has taken the baton into a new era, blending athletic excellence with bold self-expression and a strong digital presence.

Fahnbulleh offers a fresh perspective

Liberian sprint sensation Joseph Fahnbulleh, affectionately known as “Bullet,” for his electrifying speed, has now added his voice to the conversation, offering a unique perspective on the two stars. 

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, Fahnbulleh, a close friend of Lyles, acknowledged that the sport has evolved, and with it, its expectations of its leading men. That is where the key difference lies.

He explained that Lyles is the athlete for the digital generation; an entertainer, a brand-builder, and a voice for track and field.

“People compare Usain Bolt to Noah Lyles in terms of charisma. Usain Bolt spoke with his time, good vibes, and being humble. That made the sport grow. And this day and age, when it comes to social media and the sport gaining more visibility and access, maybe the sport now needs someone like Noah to be out there, and wild. Noah has that."

"Of course, we have other athletes, but when it comes to the social media aspect of gaining clicks and views, Noah is doing it, and it’s bringing press. Good press, bad press, it is still press,” Fahnbulleh disclosed.

The man behind the mic and medals

Beyond the limelight, Fahnbulleh described Lyles as a deeply grounded and genuine individual—a side of him the public rarely sees. He revealed that the Noah Lyles the world sees on Instagram and in interviews is only one layer of a much richer personality.

“Noah is a wonderful guy. He is a person you can easily talk to. The media paints a different picture of him, but he has his awesome sides. Off the track, Noah is a family guy, a wonderful guy, and a person who just loves to be around his friends. He always wants his friends to succeed."

"He works hard, trains hard, and what people do not understand, they try to put down. I can say he has his moments on track and off track."

"We have seen him try to promote track and field through his podcast, through events, etc. All round all, he is a good guy. If you get to meet him and know his story, and take off what the media says, you will see he is a wonderful guy,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

A role model for work ethic and accountability

The 200m star went on to praise Lyles’ tireless work ethic and consistency in training, noting that it has helped instill a mindset of professionalism and accountability in those around him.

“No matter what the day is or what you are feeling, you have to get out there and get it done. People are paying tickets to come see you run. Maybe you do not feel like practicing every day, but it does not matter. The stadium is packed, and I have to put up a show. I ran in the best and the worst,” he averred.

This season, Fahnbulleh has been making waves on the track. 

He won the 200m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on May 31, clocking 20.40 seconds to finish ahead of South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi (20.47) and Switzerland’s William Reais (20.72). 

His Diamond League performances have been consistently strong: third in Doha (20.26), second in Rabat (20.12), fourth in Oslo (20.44), and second in Stockholm (20.32).

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Fahnbulleh reached the final of the 200m, ultimately placing seventh. He also represented Liberia in the men’s 4x100m relay.

Comparisons between Bolt and Lyles will likely continue for years to come, but Fahnbulleh believes each athlete brought exactly what the sport needed in their respective eras.

“Usain was perfect for his time. And Noah is perfect for this one,” he concluded.