THE likelihood of American sprint sensation Noah Lyles staying in the Olympic Village at Los Angeles 2028 is SLIM.
Lyles has his sights set on a first taste of Olympic glory in Paris – but finds himself changing his daily routine to dodge the limelight.
The reigning 100m and 200m world champion, who helped the USA win the 4x100m world title last August, is a top contender to win gold in the Olympic marquee event.
Lyles’ triple medal triumph in Budapest was documented in Netflix’s ‘SPRINT’ series – though his new found fame has made his living arrangements at Paris more complicated.
And how Lyles admitted that this may be his final stay in the Olympic Village before the Men’s 100m heats kick off on August 3.
He told USA Today: “Unfortunately, that has come with its own set of challenges, being able to find my own space within the village whether that’s eating or training in the gym.
“Some athletes like to leave the village and find their own hotels, but I like to enjoy the whole Olympic event being with other athletes.
“But it has come with its own challenges of finding my own safe place. It’s hard for me to find that space within the village and I don’t want to leave.
“But it’s definitely something I feel like after this Olympics I’m gonna have to have conversations higher up.
“Whoever that’s in charge of that and making that more available and more aware.
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WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
The Paris 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Alex Yee was due to be in action in the men’s triathlon but due to pollution in the River Seine, the event has been postponed.
The Team GB 4x200m men’s freestyle swimming squad are packed with talent and could be in for gold (8.59pm).
And the women’s gymnastics team could also get a podium finish but it’s a strong field including Simone Biles’ USA (5.15pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kieran Reilly and Charlotte Worthington get underway in the freestyle BMX qualifiers (12.25pm).
Joe Clarke and Mallory Franklin are both in canoe slalom action, while the men’s hockey side face top-dogs the Netherlands.
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Clarisse Agbegnenou carried the flag for France at the opening ceremony.
She can back that up with a third Olympic judo gold in the -63kg final (4.49pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day of the rugby sevens for this Olympics, ending with the final at the 70,000-seater Stade de France at 6.45pm.
And the street-style 3×3 basketball gets underway at the spectacular La Concorde venue at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees in the heart of the city.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
“I’m not even the most popular person in the village so I know I’m not the only one who’s had to deal with situations like this.
“Even though we might be superstars in your eyes, we still are human beings and we do want to be able to have our space and our time.”
Lyles added that he discussed the situation with his therapist, and is forced to eat meals with his Jamaican sprinter girlfriend Junelle Bromfield to evade the spotlight.
Tennis icon Rafael Nadal and two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz are also regularly being asked for photos at the athletes’ base.
Spain’s Olympic tennis captain David Ferrer said: “It’s not easy for them on a day-to-day basis here.
“Many athletes stop them and I was impressed by the number of photos they ask for. Also, the good manners with which they face these moments.”
The duo are back in action on Tuesday against Dutch doubles players Wesley Koolhof and Fallon Griekspoor, after Nadal crashed out of the singles following his defeat against top seeded Novak Djokovic.
The US basketball team – led by Lebron James and Steph Curry – decided against staying at the accommodation hub to avoid similar issues.
Meanwhile, USA’s women’s tennis team – bar Coco Gauff- fled the Olympic Village to stay in hotels after finding the accommodation too cramped.
Nearly 15,000 residents – around 10,500 of which are athletes – will be cramming into the Olympic village between July 26 and August 11.
To ensure the athletes feel at home, a number of provisions have been made by organisers.
One of these is the stocking of some 300,000 condoms, in theory enough for around two every day during the run of the Games.
A number of Olympic athletes have opened the door on their steamy lives behind-the-scenes when in camp, including huge sex orgies and parties.
London 2012 had claimed the title of “the raunchiest Games ever”, but the 150,000 condoms ordered paled in comparison to the 450,000 ordered for the Rio Games four years later.
Condoms have been laid on by organisers at every game since Seoul 1988, when it they were used to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS.
Even with an intimacy ban at Tokyo 2020 due to Covid-19, some 150,000 johnnies were handed out.
Read the full story here.
