Alexandria’s Noah Lyles Ends 2026 Season Early Because of Injury

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria’s own Noah Lyles announced Friday that he is ending his 2026 track season early because of an injury that has continued to interfere with his training.

According to Olympics.com⁠, the 29-year-old Olympic champion and former T.C. Williams High School standout will not compete in the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled for Sept. 11–13 in Budapest, Hungary.

“Unfortunately, I come with some not great news,” Lyles told followers in a social media video posted Sept. 4. “Me and my coach have decided that we’re going to end my 2026 season due to injury.”

Lyles said the problem initially appeared relatively simple but became more complicated after the U.S. Championships in July. A medical evaluation revealed a small strain. Although rehabilitation appeared to be progressing well, he said the strain caused other physical problems to flare up, making it difficult for him to continue training.

At the U.S. Championships, Lyles won the 100 meters in a world-leading 9.79 seconds, matching his personal best, according to World Athletics⁠. Two days later, he pulled up during the 200-meter final after experiencing trouble with his left hamstring.

Lyles had hoped to recover in time for Budapest, where he had been promoted as one of the championship’s featured stars. World Athletics describes the new competition as a meeting of Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and the year’s other top-performing athletes. The three-day event will offer a record $10 million prize purse, the largest ever for a single track-and-field competition.

Although he will not race, Lyles said he still plans to attend the championship and support the other athletes. He explained that ending his season now will allow him to focus on recovering and preparing for two major seasons ahead: the 2027 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

For Alexandria, Lyles’ career has long been a source of hometown pride.

Lyles and his brother, fellow professional sprinter Josephus Lyles, graduated from T.C. Williams High School—now Alexandria City High School—in 2016. According to Alexandria City Public Schools, the brothers were inducted into the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.

The City of Alexandria also presented Noah and Josephus with keys to the city during an October 2022 ceremony at Market Square. The city recognized both brothers for their athletic achievements, community involvement and work as advocates for young people and mental health.

“Because we went pro out of high school, we didn’t have a collegiate stage,” Noah Lyles said during that ceremony, according to the city’s official account. “We have the City of Alexandria that gets to be our support. That’s why I believe Josephus and I always come back.”

Alexandria’s support was especially visible during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when hundreds of residents gathered at Alexandria City High School to watch Lyles compete. After he returned home with Olympic gold in the 100 meters and bronze in the 200 meters, ACPS hosted a community celebration at Chinquapin Park and the high school gymnasium.

Lyles was also named an Alexandria Living Legend in 2025

According to his official World Athletics profile, Lyles is an eight-time world champion. His American-record time of 19.31 seconds in the 200 meters makes him the third-fastest man in history over that distance.

While the early end to his season is disappointing for fans, Lyles made clear that he views it as a strategic pause—not a retreat.

“We’ll just end the season here, get ready for 2027, 2028, which are going to be humongous years,” Lyles said. “This is reassurance that we’re going to kick 2027 off with a bang and give it our all.”