Noah Lyles snatches a record from Michael Johnson in the 200 meters and defeats the new American idol

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There is something in

that does not like the American public, his public.

He turned up at Hayward Field in Eugene for the 200-meter final to applause, of course, but the stands cheered loudly for his rival,

, just 18, the kid who threatens

's records .

Maybe it's his activism, part of 'Black Lives Matter'.

But it seems it has more to do with his character.

In the American Trials, also held here a few weeks ago, Lyles beat Knighton and at the finish line he gave him a gesture with his thumb and forefinger, as if firing a pistol.

Lyles, 25, world champion in 2019 and current Olympic bronze, harassing Knighton, a kid.

The fans did not approve of the intimidation, the 'trash talking', the bad vibes that it generated, and they made him pay this Thursday at the presentation of his test.

Lyles replied.

As picturesque as he is, rapper, painter, lover of manga like Dragon Ball, Lego collector, he found his motivation in the environment.

The public wanted to see Knighton win and that pushed him.

He flew, he flew, he flew.

In the curve he had already secured gold and in the straight he launched himself for all possible records.

In the end, he stopped the clock in 19.31 seconds, vertigo.

He not only snatched the US record from Michael Johnson, he also became the third fastest man in history behind Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake.

As his arch-rival Knighton shrank to finish third with fellow American

in second, Lyles grew.

Bolt's record?

"I could have broken the world record, but I'm happy with the US record. When I ran 19.50 seconds I remember thinking: How the hell did Johnson run 19.32? That's why I don't get overwhelmed now. Breaking Usain Bolt's 19.19 seconds?" "Anything is possible. I also like having two compatriots running as fast as me. This year has been, by far, the most fun of my career thanks to that competition", commented Lyles after a show at the end of the test that neither did he have a good reception in the stands.

Right at the end he was on his knees watching the scoreboard waiting for his time to come out and when he saw the four numbers, 1, 9, 3, 1, he went crazy.

He lost the north.

He ripped the zipper off his jumpsuit, ripped it open and was left naked from the waist up.

He yelled into the air and made the gesture of Son Goku becoming a super warrior.

And then he avoided Knighton until it was unavoidable.

When the photographers insisted on photographing the three Americans together, Lyles, Bednarek and Knighton, the champion hugged the young man and held him in his arms with a few words.

Despite this, Knighton, the youngest sprint medalist in history, did not seem to want to know anything.

"Lyles has told me that I will be one of the greatest in history and I thank him. I'm fine. I'm very young and I've already been on the podium in a World Cup. More will come. At the start I had a little mess and that ended with my career, but I got a medal", commented the teenager, wanting to get into the locker room.

He left with a standing ovation from the public, the same with which he arrived.

He is the new American idol and Lyles, despite his performances, his arch-rival.

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