Noah Lyles announces first outdoor race of the season
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 26.03.26. | 16:01
The Rome meeting holds special memories for Lyles, who last competed there in 2019
Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles has officially announced his first outdoor race of the 2026 season.
The American sprint star is set to compete in the 100m at the prestigious Rome Golden Gala on Thursday, 4 June.
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Meeting organisers confirmed that Lyles will headline the fifth leg of the 2026 Diamond League series, marking his long-awaited return to outdoor competition after an active indoor campaign.
Lyles heads into the season as one of the most decorated sprinters in the world. The American claimed Olympic 100m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics before going on to dominate the 2025 season, where he secured the Diamond League trophy in the 200m and clinched world titles in both the 200m and 4x100m at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025.
His 2026 preparations began earlier than usual, signalling intent for another dominant year. He opened his campaign with a 300m victory at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in January before finishing second in 32.15 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
He later placed third in the 60m at the USATF Indoor Championships, clocking 6.51 seconds.
The Rome meeting holds special memories for Lyles, who last competed there in 2019. On that occasion, he delivered a thrilling 200m showdown with Michael Norman, narrowly finishing second in 19.72 behind Norman’s 19.70.
Despite the loss, Lyles would go on to win the 200m world title later that year at the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.
Reflecting on his return, Lyles expressed excitement about racing once again in the Italian capital.
“One of my favourite races ever was in Rome against Michael Norman. I’m hoping this time brings another one like that,” he said in a statement.
The 100m in Rome will also see Lyles attempt to follow in the footsteps of Trayvon Bromell, who won the event at the 2025 edition in a world-leading time of 9.84 seconds.
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Interestingly, the Rome Diamond League will come just weeks after a major personal milestone for Lyles.
The sprint star is set to tie the knot with Jamaican 400m runner Junelle Bromfield, with their wedding confirmed for Saturday, 4 April. The couple, who have been engaged since October 2024, had deliberately delayed their wedding plans to focus on their careers.