Junelle Lyles is done with the track. The 28-year-old Jamaican sprinter confirmed her retirement from competitive running on Thursday's episode of PEOPLE's 'WAG World' series, closing the door on a career that took her to two Olympics.
Why Junelle Lyles is Stepping Away from the Track
Lyles won bronze in the women's 4x400-meter relay at the 2020 Tokyo Games. However, the moment she'd chased since childhood fell flat.
"This was a dream that I've been chasing since I was eight," she told host Skyler Caruso. "I got there at age 22, and for some reason it did not feel fulfilling."
That emptiness drove her back for one more try. Junelle Lyles earned an individual spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 400-meter dash. Even then, the feeling didn't change.
"I don't think this was really my dream anymore," she added.
The personal toll ran deeper than competition. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2021, while Lyles was preparing for Tokyo. Weekend hospital visits were all she could manage.
With Junelle Lyles' retirement from track now official, she's channeling her energy into creative work, saying "I find it very interesting to bring something new to life."
