All About Josephus Lyles: Noah Lyles' Track Star Brother

By Jayson Panganiban September 09, 2024 11:58

Photo by MATTHIAS HANGST/POOL/AFP via Getty

While often overshadowed by his superstar sprinter brother, Noah Lyles, Josephus has made himself an important piece on the American track roster. In this piece, we look at the story of Josephus Lyles, from his origins to accomplishments, and his relationship with his brother, Noah, grasping a broader picture as an up-and-coming name in athletics.

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Early Life and Background

Josephus Lyles was born on July 22, 1998, and is from a family with roots running deep into track and field. Josephus and his brother Noah were greatly influenced by their parents, Kevin Lyles & Keisha Caine Bishop, who were former track athletes themselves.

Interestingly, Josephus didn't like running in the start. He ran for the first time in elementary school, lasting only until fifth or sixth grade before bowing out. Josephus gravitated back toward track when he hit eighth grade, giving himself a blast of passion and success. It was a decision that would result in the start of his athletics journey and set him up for much success.

Athletic Career

Josephus Lyles's track and field background started well before he became famous in high school. When he graduated, he was a gold medal-winning 4x400m relay member at the IAAF World U20 Championships in 2014. Two years later, his form ascended when he won two more medals at the World Youth Championships, silver and bronze in 400m and 200m, respectively.

2022 was also a landmark year for Josephus as he broke 20 seconds in the 200 at Nationals and set an all-time personal best of 19.93 to crack into the top-100 world barrier. This effectively underlined his ability and subsequently validated him as a force to be reckoned with as a sprinter at the global level.

Comparison with Noah

Josephus and Noah Lyles have been exceptional to each other, helping support their respective dreams in track and field. They may be brothers, but have different running styles and body types.

Josephus lifts heavier into the weight room, more accurately reflecting his greater size and performance based on power. This is because his training philosophy largely focuses on extending the length of his stride and using his advantages in size and strength to flat-out overpower everyone else.

Their similar age and upbringing have developed an alliance that stands by each other through thick and thin in their careers. In 2016, they signed eight-year deals with Adidas, reinforcing their pledge to maintain a professional-level track career while running alongside one another. "Having Noah around, it's pretty awesome to know that you have a partner in crime with you 24/7," Josephus said earlier this season.

Future Aspirations

Naturally, Josephus Lyles has big plans for his athletic career. He plans to better his timing in the 100m and the 200m race to set a new benchmark for himself in the 100 meters, as Josephus feels like he hasn't performed at the peek of his capabilities internationally.

He also hopes to compete for his country in major international tournaments and potentially at the Olympic Games. Inspired by Noah, Josephus wants to ensure that his impact on the sport has some permanence.

The fact that he went from running at his elementary school's run-a-thon to being one of the best sprinters in the world is a tribute to not just making it but knowing through every emotion why you love what you do.