The United States has won 61 total medals in sailing competitions in the Olympics in the past. That is the second most of any country, only behind Great Britain's 64. If the Stars and Stripes want to overtake the British this summer in the 2024 Paris games, they'll have to rely on Floridian Noah Lyons.
"There’s something about the independence of being out on the water," Lyons said.
Lyons first found that independence at just 5 years old when he hopped on a boat for the first time in his hometown of Clearwater. His older brother began sailing before him, and Noah wanted to follow in those footsteps. So, Lyons went from sailing camp to sailing competitions.
"I was pretty good from a young age," Lyons said. "I would win some smaller events and stuff."
Those small events eventually grew into big ones. Lyons made waves at every stop, including the U.S. Olympic Development Program. After graduating from the University of South Florida in 2022, Noah made a proclamation.
“The spring of 2022, I was like, 'OK, I’m going for it, this is what I want to try to do,'" Lyons said.
His goal was to compete in the Olympics. So, Lyons postponed grad school to become a full-time sailor and prepare for Paris.
"You go to the gym, you eat, you sail, you sleep," Lyons said. "That’s your life."
That hard-nosed regiment has been Noah's reality for the past two years. While he admits it is draining at times, all of the hard work paid off in January when Noah officially punched his ticket to Paris at the U.S. Sailing Olympic Trials in Miami.
"I mean, it’s an honor," Lyons said. "I’m so grateful to have the chance to represent the U.S., but also to represent Florida and my hometown of Clearwater."
The Floridian will be competing in the iQFOil — a brand-new event that is making its Olympic debut in 2024. Unlike conventional sailing, the boat Noah rides is elevated off of the water and looks like it is hovering. He says it is one of the hardest boats to ride and will, at times, cause his heart rate to spike over 200 beats per minute.
"It’s like trying to play a game of chess after running a marathon," Lyons said.
Since making the U.S. Olympic team, Lyons has been training all over the world. He works with former Olympians as his coaches and mentors, which he says has been a game-changer for him. Recently, Noah was training in southern France in the city of Marseille, which is where the sailing competitions will take place this summer.
"To summarize it in one word is 'volatile,'" Lyons said, describing sailing in Marseille. "It’s a really good venue in that sense because it’s a good pure test of who’s good at what."
After dedicating his life to making the Olympics, Lyons is now trying to keep everything in perspective for Paris.
"I can’t lose sight of I just love sailing," Lyons said. "I’m going there to sail, and it’s just like any other event."
However, he does say the possibility of winning an Olympic medal is something he's dreamt about for a long time.
"I think it would mean everything to me," Lyons said. "That's the dream of every athlete who goes to the Olympics is to win one of those medals."
The Olympic sailing competitions begin July 28.