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Alexandria’s Lyles ties Bolt’s record with 4th straight 200m world title

By James Cullum
Alexandria native Noah Lyles won his fourth consecutive 200m gold at the World Championships in Tokyo, Sept. 19, 2025 (via Twitter)

Alexandria native Noah Lyles sprinted to his fourth consecutive victory in the 200 meters at the World Championships in Tokyo on Friday.

The 28-year-old Lyles finished in 19.52 seconds, just ahead of teammate Kenny Bednarek. The 200m win ties the four 200m victories earned by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Lyles’ win comes a day after he ran the fastest semifinal 200m in history, with a time of 19.51 seconds.

Lyles won the gold medal in the 100 meters in a photo finish and bronze in the 200m in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also received a hero’s welcome in Alexandria after the Paris Olympics. His best time in the 200 meters is 19.31 seconds, which he ran at the Olympic trials in 2022.

Olympic Champion Noah Lyles waves at a celebration in his honor at Alexandria City High School on Sept. 22, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Back home in Alexandria, Lyles has been named a 2025 Living Legend of Alexandria. He’s also received the key to the city and is in the Alexandria City Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

Lyles is a 2016 graduate of T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School), and delivered the keynote address to the graduating class of 2020. In his speech, he said his life was filled with adversity, that he is a lifelong asthmatic who was bullied in high school and is dyslexic.

“Facing those adversities is what got me here today,” Lyles told the students.

Image via Twitter

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.