American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has praised Noah Lyles for producing the “clutch moment” of 2024 when he claimed glory at the Paris Olympics against the odds.

Former Olympics and world 100m champion Justin Gatlin has showered praise on Noah Lyles for getting the job done under immense pressure at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Lyles won the 100m amid a stiff challenge from Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who came into the race with the fastest time of the year, the American edging a tight race in 9.784, giving a 0.005 second margin over his rival, who had 9.789.

While speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, alongside former Bahamas sprinter Rodney Green, Gatlin said Lyles’ ability to produce the moment of glory under a lot of pressure and when few gave him a chance of winning, made it so special, terming it his “clutch” performance of the year.

Noah Lyles and brother Josephus show off their competitive side in League of Legends

“Clutch for me would go to Noah, not MVP, reason being is because he had a solid year but it wasn’t as great as Tebogo. But he would get my clutch award,” Green weighed in before Gatlin responded.

“On the clutch aspect, Noah was not favored for the 100m. He stepped up to the plate and he challenged everybody in the world and went out there and won the 100m, very clutch,” said Gatlin.

“It is a very hard race to win especially under those pressures where a lot of people are doubting you. That has to play an effect in your mind and your preparation that you are not the fastest on paper.”

Gatlin says it must have been scary watching Thompson run the fastest time of the year (9.77) and still slow down, meaning he could have dipped further, which made him hot favourite for gold in Paris but the fact that Lyles went on to beat him showed his true qualities.

“When you watched the fastest person on paper run the fastest time of a 9.77 and slowing down well before the finish line, you knew he had something left in the tank and you still show up to the line and gave it your all, and your all got the job done. That is very clutch for me,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lyles has taken stock of his 2024 season, expressing satisfaction at what he achieved through a social media post.

“Thank you 2024 season. Oly [Olympics] 100 champion, Oly 200m bronze medalist, 2x World indoor silver medalist, 2x National champion, American recorded 150m,” he posted on X.

Lyles will be looking forward to defend his 100m and 200m titles at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.