Noah Lyles opens up on weight of expectations and post-Olympics depression

American sprint sensation Noah Lyles has once again shed light on the struggles athletes face after competing at the highest level, revealing his battle with post-Olympics depression.

Speaking candidly on the Ready Set Go podcast, the multiple world champion emphasized that post-Olympic blues are a real and serious issue, often overlooked in mainstream conversations.

Lyles' revelations come just weeks after his first races of the season in Gainesville and Boston. He was marking his return to competitive action since his triumphant outing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he secured the coveted 100m gold medal.

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While basking in Olympic glory may seem like the pinnacle of an athlete’s career, Lyles noted that mental health challenges can follow such monumental achievements.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Lyles recalled his battle with depression around the time of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, during which he had to take medication to cope.

He has since been vocal about his struggles, hoping to bring awareness to an issue that affects many elite athletes.

In his recent podcast appearance, Lyles recounted a conversation with a young athlete experiencing similar challenges after the 2024 Games.

He described the phenomenon as “postpartum Olympics” or “gold medal depression,” terms that encapsulate the emotional void some athletes feel after reaching the peak of their careers.

“You said something that I felt we have not talked about on this podcast yet. You said Olympic blues, and many people might not understand what that is.

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But postpartum Olympics, gold medal depression this stuff is real, and this stuff has happened. I had talked to an athlete after the Olympics who got their medal very young, and they were kind of getting into that,” Lyles shared.

Lyles is not the first high-profile Olympian to address this issue. Swimming legend Michael Phelps has also been vocal about the mental health struggles athletes face, especially after the Olympic spotlight fades.

Beyond discussing post-Olympics depression, Lyles delved into the immense pressure that track and field athletes endure. He believes that pressure is often a byproduct of an athlete’s preparation or lack thereof.

“Dealing with pressure comes with preparing. I think a lot of people get stuck on pressure because they feel like they’re not prepared.

When you get on the line and you have to think, ‘I have to do this,’ you’re going to psych yourself out. If you’ve done right before you got there, it’s going to happen,” Lyles explained.

The 100m champion also emphasized the importance of visualization as a key component of his preparation, noting that mentally rehearsing a race before stepping onto the track has been crucial to his success.