Rai Benjamin Says Track and Field Athletes Require an ‘Unhealthy Amount of Self-Confidence and a Sense of Narcissism’

Mar. 15, 2025

Rai Benjamin; Noah Lyles.Photo:Ian MacNicol/Getty; Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty

Ian MacNicol/Getty; Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty

Three-time Olympic gold medal hurdlerRai Benjaminisn’t tripping over his thoughts when it comes to track athletes’ confidence levels.

Benjamin, 27, emphasized on theJan. 16 podcast episodeofBeyond the Records— which he co-hosts with fellow gold medalistsNoah LylesandGrant Holloway, both 27 — that high-performing track and field competitors tend to have overly confident mentalities.

“I always tell people in track and field you have to have an unhealthy amount of self-confidence and sense of narcissism in order to be good,” Benjamin said. “You have to be that way, and if you don’t have those tendencies, you’re not really going to be successful.”

The topic of self-confidence surfaced after Lyles brought up his dramatic victory in the 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 4.

Benjamin recalled Lyles’ entrance onto the track that showcased the “unbelievable faith,” which would eventually lead to Lyles’ photo-finish win.

“When Noah came out of that stadium and he jumped around and they started cheering … you know it’s done, just give him the medal now,” Benjamin said.

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Noah Lyles screams at the camera before the Paris Olympics 100-meter final on Aug. 4, 2025.Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty

Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty

“Before I go out, my coach is like, ‘Control the crowd, control the race.’ Nobody knows how to control a crowd like me so if you want to go out and yell, that’s cool,” Lyles said, referring to Thompson.

“So I’m coming out and doing the walkout and the cameraman is trying to keep me in one spot and I’m like, ‘You better get out of the way because I’m not here for you — I’m here for the crowd,’ ” Lyles continued.

Lyles recalled everyone going “insane in energy” before the start of the race, in which he narrowly edged out Thompson with a time of 9.79 seconds.

“I love moments. The Olympics is a moment. Like you said, ‘It’s one moment.’ And it only comes around every four years. Why not make it the best moment anybody has ever seen? It’s gonna make you remember me when I do it,” Lyles added.

Cotton replied, “You didthat. You didthat,” to which co-host Holloway agreed, saying, ”That’s 80,000 people having that moment, Noah.”

Beyond the Recordspodcast episodes are available to listen to and watch onSpotify,YouTubeandApple Podcasts.

source: people.com