TOKYO — Noah Lyles had a simple message about his favorite race, the 200 meters. “I don’t plan to lose,” he said. Anyone who calls that brash, arrogant or unsportsmanlike would fit right in with the sprinters trying to prove him wrong at world championships this week.

TOKYO — Noah Lyles had a simple message heading into the 200 meters at the World Athletics Championships: “I don’t plan to lose.” It wasn’t a boast. It was a promise — one that has defined his career, and one that now echoes across the lanes of every competitor trying to dethrone him.

That unshakable confidence may rub some the wrong way, but in the world of sprinting — where milliseconds separate the historic from the forgotten — confidence is as essential as speed. And in Lyles’ case, both come in abundance.

The reigning world champion and Olympic bronze medalist has dominated the 200 meters in recent years, using not just his explosive speed but also a deep understanding of race strategy and a flair for the big stage. But this week in Tokyo, he faces perhaps his stiffest competition yet, including young challengers hungry to make their mark and veterans eager to reclaim past glory.

Lyles’ words may seem brash to some, but in the world of elite track and field, self-belief is part of the uniform. “You have to believe you’re unbeatable,” Lyles said earlier this week. “Because if you don’t, someone else will — and they’ll beat you.”

Still just 28, Lyles has become not only one of the fastest men alive but also one of the sport’s most dynamic personalities. Whether he’s striking a pose after a win, speaking candidly about mental health, or drawing anime comparisons to his racing style, Lyles brings charisma to a sport that often struggles for attention between Olympic cycles.

In Tokyo, Lyles is aiming not only for gold but for a legacy. With six world championship medals to his name — including four golds — he is inching closer to Usain Bolt’s legendary status in the 200 meters. Lyles has made no secret of his ambition to break Bolt’s world record of 19.19 seconds, and though he came close in 2023 with a 19.31 finish, that dream remains on the horizon.

His rivals aren’t backing down. Among them is Erriyon Knighton, the young American phenom who has already run under 19.5 seconds. There’s also Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who stunned fans with a blistering time last season, and Canada’s Andre De Grasse, an Olympic gold medalist with a knack for rising in the biggest moments.

But Lyles has been here before — and he’s proven time and again that he thrives under pressure. “I’m not racing just to win,” he said. “I’m racing to be remembered.”

That swagger, sharpened over years of competition, is matched by an unmatched ability to finish strong. While others fade in the final 50 meters, Lyles seems to find another gear — the sign of not just a sprinter, but a champion.

So when Lyles says he doesn’t plan to lose, it isn’t arrogance. It’s expectation — his, and ours. And if history is any guide, the man in lane six might just keep that promise.