Josephus Lyles has opened up about his personal journey in athletics, sharing how he overcame feelings of guilt and the pressure of constantly comparing himself to his older brother, Noah Lyles. Josephus, who has been in the shadow of his brother’s success in track and field, revealed how he struggled with feelings of inadequacy, especially after not making the team for the 2019 World Championships. His brother, Noah, was the only one in their family to qualify for the US team, and Josephus found it difficult to celebrate his brother’s success while grappling with his own disappointment.
At the 2019 World Championships, Josephus was devastated after failing to make the final of the 400m at the US Trials, finishing eighth in the semifinal. Noah, on the other hand, won the 200m at the trials and went on to claim his first gold medal at the Championships. Josephus admitted that, at the time, he felt torn between feeling proud of his brother’s achievement and bitter that he wasn’t experiencing the same success.
For a while, Josephus questioned why his brother seemed to have everything fall into place while he struggled. He and Noah had the same training regimen, the same diet, and put in the same effort, yet Noah was consistently excelling in track and field. This disparity led Josephus to wonder why he couldn’t achieve the same level of success. He reflected on how hard it was to watch Noah rise to prominence, especially when he felt like he was putting in just as much work.
However, over time, Josephus learned to shift his perspective. He realized that comparing himself to Noah was not only unfair but also unproductive. He came to understand that life doesn’t always go according to plan and that he didn’t necessarily deserve anything just because he had worked hard. This realization marked a turning point in his career and his mindset. Josephus stopped comparing himself to his brother and focused on carving out his own path.
Growing up, Josephus was always the more academically inclined of the two brothers, excelling in traditional learning and athletics. His brother Noah, on the other hand, faced challenges in traditional education due to learning disabilities. Despite these differences, Josephus had always assumed that their paths would follow a similar trajectory, with him continuing to excel in both academics and sports. However, once they turned professional, Josephus was confronted with the reality that Noah’s athletic career was taking off while his own was not progressing as quickly.
In their professional careers, Noah’s success came swiftly after turning pro, while Josephus faced a series of setbacks. This contrast between their careers only intensified Josephus’ feelings of frustration and confusion. Despite his talent and dedication, he found himself struggling to break through at the global level, while his brother was thriving.
Josephus continued to pursue his own athletic goals, undeterred by the challenges he faced. At the 2024 US Olympic Trials, he failed to make the final in both the 100m and 200m, while Noah continued to dominate, winning both titles. Noah went on to win the 100m and secure a bronze in the 200m at the Paris Olympic Games. Despite not achieving the same level of success, Josephus remains determined to forge his own path in the sport.
Through his struggles, Josephus has come to accept that success is not always immediate and that everyone’s journey is different. He has learned to embrace his own unique path, understanding that his time will come, just as his brother’s did. Josephus continues to push forward, motivated by his own goals and the knowledge that he is on his own journey, separate from Noah’s.
