Athletes who won 100, 200m in same Olympics: Noah Lyles can join Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt

Noah Lyles is just getting started.

If anybody watching the 2024 Paris Olympics wasn’t aware, the “World’s Fastest Man” made sure they heard it from him during the 48 hours after he won the 100-meter final in a stunning photo finish.

Lyles long ago declared fame — the kind of fame that transcends track and field and lifts the entire sport, the kind of fame that only occurs with multiple Olympic gold medals — to be part of his mission at these Games.

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He’s running down history, as much as he’s running down those chasing him on the Stade de France track this week. The 100-meter final was only the first step.

Lyles wants to win the 200-meter gold medal Thursday and win a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay Friday to put his name alongside some of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. Only Jesse Owens (1936), Bobby Morrow (1956), Carl Lewis (1984) and Usain Bolt (2012 and 2016) have ever won gold medals in all three of those sprint events at the same Olympics.

Next up on Lyles’ list: His signature event.

The Alexandria, Virginia native is the defending world champion in the 200 meters, but finished second in the 200-meter semifinals on Wednesday — his first loss since earning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. He finished with a time of 20.08 seconds.

Lyles cruised through his heat Tuesday in 19.31 seconds, two days after he ran the fastest Olympic 100-meter race since Usain Bolt set the Olympic record with a 9.63 in 2012. His time in the 200 on Tuesday was the fastest recorded at the Olympics since Bolt set an Olympic record at the Beijing Games in 2008.

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Lyles also voiced the desire ahead of this week to attempt an unprecedented run at four medals in Paris. He wanted to be included on the United States 4x400 relay team, and the manner in which he publicly campaigned for a spot in the race drew criticism on social media from Quincy Hall, who won the 400-meter gold medal on Wednesday.

Lyles ran on Team USA’s silver-medal winning 4x400-relay team at the 2024 world indoor track and field championships, but he's not expected to be included at the Olympics.

He is expected, however, to be a part of the American 4x100-relay team. Lyles anchored the 4x100 team that won a gold medal at the World Athletics Relays in May along with Kenny Bednarek, Courtney Lindsay and Kyree King.

If all goes as he plans, Lyles will cross the finish line as an Olympic legend.

Here's a look at the company Lyles looks to keep if he can make history at the 2024 Paris Olympics:

Athletes who won 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay in single Olympics

• Jesse Owens (United States): 1936

• Bobby Morrow (United States): 1956

• Carl Lewis (United States): 1984

• Usain Bolt (Jamaica): 2012 and 2016

Athletes who won 100m, 200m in single Olympics

• Archie Hahn (United States): 1904

• Ralph Craig (United States): 1912

• Percy Williams (Canada): 1928

• Eddie Tolan (United States): 1932

• Jesse Owens (United States): 1936

• Bobby Morrow (United States): 1956

• Valeriy Borzov (Soviet Union/Ukraine): 1972

• Carl Lewis (United States): 1984

• Usain Bolt (Jamaica): 2008, 2012 and 2016

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Noah Lyles chases Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt in 100m, 200m at Paris Games