MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images

Video: Noah Lyles Hopes to Break Usain Bolt's 100m World Record 'As Soon As Possible'

Paul Kasabian

Usain Bolt set the world record in the 100m with a time of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships. It's a time that the reigning Olympic 100m champion, American sprinter Noah Lyles, aims to beat someday.

"I'm trying to get it done as soon as possible," Lyles said when Dan Patrick asked how long he thinks it will take for someone to surpass Bolt's time.

"Unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball, so I can't give you an exact date. But as athletes we're always looking to improve ourselves, and we're always looking for greater challenges. I think everyone sees the world record as No. 1, that's incredible and No. 2, I want that to be me."

Lyles posted his personal-best time of 9.79 seconds in the 100m in Paris. That figure is tied for the 12th-fastest mark all time.

Only three men have ever run the 100m in faster than 9.70 seconds.

American sprinter Tyson Gay did so at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix at 9.69 seconds, while Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake ran the same time at the Athletissima Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2012.

Running a 100m time of 9.57 seconds or faster would be a Herculean feat for Lyles, and it seems impossible on paper.

At the same time, it's understandable for Lyles to aim high and achieve the greatest possible goals his sport allows, so it's no surprise he hopes to accomplish this someday.

In the meantime, Lyles proudly holds the title of the "fastest man in the world" after his dramatic win in Paris.

His international resume now includes seven gold medals (six World Championship, one Olympic), one silver World Championship medal and two bronze Olympic medals.

   

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