Will Noah Lyles break Usain Bolt’s 200-meter world record? Science and training give him a chance, experts say

Noah Lyles was recognized as the fastest man in the world after he emerged victorious in the 100-meter race at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

However, the American sprinter's time of 9.79 seconds was not enough to beat the world record of 9.58 set by Usain Bolt from Jamaica in 2009.

Lyles will get another opportunity to race against Bolt in the 200 final on Thursday. Bolt also set the world record (19.19) in 2009 and still holds it.

There are people who believe that Usain Bolt's records will never be surpassed and that we have already reached the maximum potential of human physiology. However, experts from Northeastern University do not fully agree with this belief.

David Nolan, who is an associate clinical professor at Northeastern University and also the director of the Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program, believes that Usain Bolt's record will eventually be surpassed.

"We will continue to seek innovative methods to enhance human capabilities," states Stephen B. Clark, a Northeastern assistant professor specializing in physical therapy, human movement, and rehabilitation sciences.

According to Rui Li, an associate clinical professor in public health and health sciences at Northeastern, records should always be capable of being broken, even if it's only by a small margin.

Li is confident that advances in science and improved training methods will eventually allow athletes to surpass records set by legends like Bolt and Florence Griffith-Joyner, who have held the women's world records in the 100- and 200-meter events since 1988.

Bolt and Joyner are widely regarded as the greatest of all time. Athletes are still improving their speed and strength, but only little by little, according to Li.

In the end, they will be able to keep up, she explains.

In his blog, Li discusses the advancements being made by explaining concepts such as physical changes, enhanced recovery, and energy-producing organelles in cells.

In theory, there are always restrictions,” Li explains, who oversees the exercise science program at the university. "However, on the other hand, there is physiological adjustment."

Our Bodies React To Pressure

Changing and adjusting can lead to improvements in human abilities, especially among different people, she explains.

Li explains that the body achieves growth during the supercompensation phase of training, where it has recovered from previous workouts but is now prepared to take on higher levels of fitness.

For instance, consider stamina, she explains. The size and capacity of the heart and oxygen intake will increase, but only to a certain extent.

The area where there is room for growth is in the tiny powerhouses found in our muscle cells, called mitochondria. These mitochondria take nutrients and turn them into molecules that provide energy. According to Li, this energy is what can drive people to achieve outstanding accomplishments and set new records.

"As you continue to train, your mitochondria will grow in both size and number," she explains, noting that there are also other ways your body adapts to exercise.

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Swimmers Keep Breaking Records

Although track records are not broken often, swimming records are consistently being surpassed by both men and women. This trend continued at the Paris Olympics, despite reports that the pool was not ideal for fast times.

In other news, Bobby Finke from the United States achieved a new global record in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle event, and Pan Zhanle from China also set a new record in the men's 100-meter race.

According to Roy Coates, who is the head coach of Northeastern's swim team, our understanding of the physics behind swimming is constantly evolving and getting better.

Deeper swimming pools - the quicker pools are now three meters deep, not the previous 2.15 meters like the pool at the 2024 Olympics - channels that take in waves and strategies like increasing the time swimmers stay submerged are all new advancements in the sport, according to Coates.

I believe that someday, someone will break Bolt's record.

Howard Powell, the assistant head coach of track and field at Northeastern University, believes that there is still a large group of potential track athletes who have not been fully explored.

Track and field is the 12th most popular sport among kids between the ages of 6 and 12 in the United States.

Powell suggests that upcoming athletes who excel in sports like football may have the potential to become future track stars.

However, the substantial monetary rewards that come with being part of the NFL are sufficient to persuade a talented track and field athlete to stay in team sports, according to him.

"Powell suggests that offering improved financial incentives would attract a larger turnout for track events."

"Confidence Is Key"

Sprinters don't have the chance to completely alter their swimming style by using dolphin kicks during a race around the track.

According to Powell, confidence is key when chasing records set by track legends. After his impressive performance on Sunday, Lyles will surely have a lot of confidence.

He believes people no longer have fear when pursuing their goals.

Lyles has expressed his strong desire to compete in the 200 event on Thursday, stating that it is his preferred race.

Cutting-edge Advancements In Training

Northwestern specialists claim that the advancements in sports training and technology since Jesse Owens competed on a cinder track are so vast that they could be documented in a large book.

According to Powell, adding carbon fiber plates to shoes can give runners more spring in their step, while using rubberized tracks can make running easier and quicker on their feet and legs.

"Clark, who oversees performance rehabilitation at Northeastern's sports performance department, notes that there has been a shift towards using more scientific evidence in areas like sports psychology, nutrition, and physical training."

"In the past, athletes focused more on aerobics for training. However, we discovered that when training sprinters to run at high speeds, developing their immediate energy systems is actually more crucial," according to him.

Clark mentions that improvements in the recovery and rehabilitation processes are equally significant.

He mentions that much of it comes down to providing high-quality medical treatment, having a good grasp on how the body works, and knowing how the body heals.

Stronger Incentives Drive Action

According to Powell, advancements in training and technology have led to the overall improvement of young athletes today.

And even though smaller improvements may be made in breaking records, the motivation to achieve this is stronger than before, according to him.

According to Powell, the contracts of many top athletes include provisions for additional payments if they exceed previous accomplishments, along with meeting medal and performance targets.

He explains that this gives individuals more reasons to surpass previous achievements, even by making minor improvements.

Powell explains that each time a record is broken, there is an increase in financial reward. He goes on to say that breaking a record or winning a medal raises an individual's worth.