Track and Field: A Century of Change with Noah Lyles and Harold Abrahams

Imagine running the 100m race a hundred years apart. That's what Noah Lyles and Harold Abrahams did. Lyles, the 27-year-old Olympic champion, clocked 9. 79 seconds in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Abrahams, from the 1924 Games, ran the same distance in 10. 6 seconds. That's a difference of 0. 81 seconds, which might not seem like much, but it's a world away in track and field. What changed in those 100 years? Quite a bit, actually. Shoes, tracks, training methods—all revolutionized. Back in 1924, athletes wore heavy leather shoes with iron spikes. Today, sports shoes are lightweight and designed for speed. Tracks have evolved too. From cinder tracks with poor grip to modern tracks like Mondo, which provide better surfaces and energy return. Training has also seen a massive overhaul. Athletes like Lyles benefit from tailored programs, optimized diets, and better schedules. It's not just the gear and methods that have changed, but also the mindset. The spirit of a champion, however, remains the same. Both Lyles and Abrahams pushed their limits, using the resources of their time. That's the heart of a true champion—timeless and unchanged.

Actions