American sprint star Noah Lyles made a less-than-impressive debut at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, leaving fans disappointed. Lyles started the 100-meter heat slowly and struggled to catch up to his competitors. Ultimately, he finished in second place with a time of 10.04 seconds, securing his spot in the semifinals. Louie Hinchliffe from Great Britain clinched the victory with a time of 9.98 seconds.

Lyles, who previously won a bronze medal in the 200-meter event at the Tokyo Olympics, arrived in Paris as the defending world champion in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. Despite holding the third-fastest time of the season at 9.81 seconds, his performance in the opening heat fell short of expectations.

Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and concern about Lyles' performance, questioning if he would be able to hold his ground against tough opponents in the finals. Critics pointed out that if he repeated this lackluster performance against competitors like Kishane Thompson or Fred Kerly, podium placement would be unlikely.

Although Lyles appeared to exert himself toward the end of the race to secure his advancement, his initial slow start may be cause for concern. As he looks ahead to the semifinals and the chance to redeem himself, the pressure is on for Lyles to deliver the world-class performances he is known for.

Despite the setbacks, Lyles remains a formidable athlete with the potential to bounce back and make a strong statement in the upcoming races. Fans and sports enthusiasts eagerly await his performances in the semifinals and beyond as he strives to defend his world titles in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Paris Olympics.