AceShowbiz - Fresh off his success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles is shedding light on the surprising and stringent aspects of his childhood. The 27-year-old track-and-field star recently revealed in a podcast interview that he "actually grew up in a cult."

Speaking on the "Everybody Wants to Be Us" podcast, Lyles shared that while the cult "wasn't at the level of, 'Yeah, OK. We're gonna drink the Kool-Aid,' it was super strict."

Lyles described the controlling environment of the unnamed church group. "All moms had to be homeschooling their kids and the father was the head of the household," he explained. "The church told you who you could date and who you couldn't date. If you got married, it had to be through us, that type of behavior."

Eventually, his family decided to leave and moved to North Carolina to find a new church, only to realize the new environment had similar controlling dynamics. "That kind of really messed up my view of church, and it definitely messed up my mom's view," Lyles divulged, adding that his mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, still struggles to trust churches but has retained her faith in the religion itself.

Despite these turbulent experiences, Lyles' faith was strengthened by his mother's resilience. He narrated how his mom encouraged him to seek faith through tests, a concept that motivated him during pivotal moments in his track career. While battling swine flu during ninth grade, Lyles managed to become the youngest person on the World Youth track-and-field team, solidifying his belief in a higher purpose.

At the Paris Olympics, Lyles showcased remarkable resilience by securing a gold medal in the 100-meter final and a bronze in the 200-meter final, despite testing positive for COVID-19 and competing with a 102-degree fever. His mother's presence and support during these testing times were palpable, as she fervently ensured he received medical attention after he collapsed post-race.

Reflecting on his journey, Lyles recognized his experiences as preparation for moments of greatness. "I've run very close to after having contracted COVID, many times. I know that I can go out there and still put on a great performance, and it's an all-or-nothing scenario because nothing is promised tomorrow. So, I might as well take advantage of today," he stated.