Noah Lyles Gives Girlfriend Junelle Bromfield 'the Flowers She Deserves' amid Online 'Disrespect and Hatred'

"This woman has been attacked by people who have never met her," Lyles said

Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles is defending his girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield, amid disrespectful messages aimed at the Jamaican sprinter.

In a post shared on Instagram on Saturday, Aug. 17, the 27-year-old gold medalist penned a message in support of Bromfield, 26. "I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of my GF and give her the flowers she deserves now 💐," his caption began.

Lyles said his girlfriend — who he met on social media in 2017 — has "been through so much in her life" that he could "never imagine fighting through."

"Beyond that she is a survivor, 2x Olympian, Olympic medalists, Multi world championship medalist, and has been representing Jamaica on the world stage since she was 8 years old," he continued alongside a photo of Bromfield competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Beyond Bromfield's list of athletic accomplishments, Lyles said "the most impressive thing" he's admired her for was "how she's dealt with the pure disrespect and hatred towards her from her own country."

"This woman has been attacked by people who have never met her, heard her name before, never seen her smile, or heard what she believes in. But she keeps moving forward knowing that God will always make a way," Lyles wrote, concluding, "That's why God keeps blessing her!"

Related: Who Is Noah Lyles' Girlfriend? All About Junelle Bromfield

Lyles has made headlines for his divisive comments in the past, but Bromfield became the target of online hate after an interview Lyles did with the Track World News podcast in July.

During the interview, Lyles revealed that he had "been getting the drama from the Jamaican camp" for "at least five years now," suggesting that Bromfield had been sharing internal information about her country's track-and-field team.

"There's a lot of times I make references about Jamaicans but I am not trying to go back and forth, like I know information that other people don’t," Lyles said during the episode published on July 15.

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Comments under Lyles' tribute to Bromfield suggested that Lyles was the one who "caused chaos" for the Jamaican sprinter.

"You should apologize to her for publicly revealing things she discussed with you in public. Just say you're sorry and cover her," one commenter wrote, explaining that "Jamaican people were not against your relationship before your interview on that podcast."

Related: Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles Reveals He 'Actually Grew Up in a Cult'

Another user wrote, "Jamaicans don’t hate her; we are disappointed in you for bringing what you two pillow-talked about to the media."

Lyles' post received support from Bromfield's Team Jamaica teammate, Charokee Young, however. "Sending love," Young commented, adding three hand-heart emojis.

Lyles won gold in the men's 100-meter final on Aug. 4 in Paris. "To be honest, I just believed in myself," Lyles told reporters, including PEOPLE, after the race.

The win marked Lyles' first gold medal in the Olympics and the first time Team USA has won gold in the event since the Athens Games in 2004. Lyles previously won bronze in the 200-meter final in Tokyo in 2021.

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