There is very little that’s as encouraging as family and friends’ support, and Keisha Caine Bishop has been a shining example regarding her son Noah Lyles during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While Lyles may be at the center of many of the conversations, Bishop was a decorated athlete in her own right. Lyles’ parents, Kevin Lyles and Bishop, met at Seton Hall University during the 1990s. According to People, both were accomplished track and field athletes in college. As a student, Bishop studied political science and Spanish.

Keisha Caine Bishop’s Track Record

According to her 2018 Hall of Fame induction bio, Bishop was a standout athlete for the Seton Hall Pirates, earning All-American honors nine times. She contributed to two NCAA national titles as a member of the 4×400 relay teams and played a key role in winning the 4×400 relay at the 1994 Championship of America at the Penn Relays – University of Pennsylvania. Bishop was also part of two BIG EAST Championship-winning teams and was named the 1995 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Performer, closing her career with nine conference titles.

She graduated in 1995 and married Kevin soon after. They had three children: Noah, Josephus, and Abby. Even early on, people near the couple predicted their children would inherit their parents’ speed.

“Their children are probably going to be very fast people,” John Moon, Seton Hall’s track coach, said in 1995, according to an Asbury Park Press report.

That prediction would ring true as Noah and Josephus made their marks on the sport. Noah won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics for the 100-meter run. His brother Josephus is an accomplished sprinter as well and a back-to-back champion at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

Her Role And Influence As A Mother

Bishop’s support has been evident in her children’s lives. Although life took a turn in 2008 when Bishop and Kevin Lyles divorced, the change in circumstances did not change her commitment to ensuring her children’s success.

“My mom is a hard worker,” Noah Lyles said via NBC. “I remember her saying constantly, ‘I don’t care what the job is as long as I’m able to make money for my family, I’m gonna do the job, and I’m gonna do it to the best of my ability.’ To be honest, that’s kind of how I approach it with life. Whatever hobby I get into, whatever workout I’m doing, even when I’m racing, you know, I’m gonna be the best I can be, and I’m gonna be the best you’ve ever seen.”

Bishop commented on those years, saying, “It was really stressful during those years, but I think we learned we are a great team, and we can accomplish anything if we put our minds to it.”

Revered as her eldest son’s biggest inspiration, Bishop was seen bursting with excitement as she cheered Noah to victory.

“It is so difficult because since I ran I know what he’s going through, but there is nothing I can do about it,” she told the “TODAY” show. “So as soon as I see him come up on the track, I just stretch my hands towards him, and I pray that God will give him feet with angels’ wings (and) that no one in the race gets hurt.”

Keisha Caine Bishop Stands On Business

When she is not on the sidelines cheering on her children, Bishop is a life coach. She focuses on assisting the parents of athletes to support them on their journey. Her Instagram profile highlights conference calls she hosts with the parents, offering support, guidance, and advice as they help their children navigate advanced athletics.

Bishop’s work with other parents doesn’t just come from emotional support but also from empathy and relatability. As noted above, the former track star experienced a time when providing for her family was a financial strain. A profile from Essentially Sports points out that Bishop once searched through Walmart to buy shoes for her two sons. However, the price tag displaying $11 was too much for her to pay then. This became a defining moment for her and her children, with her vowing never to be in that financial position again.

“But watching you evolve from that point to everything you have achieved since really gives me the strength to know there is nobody tougher than my mom, and I want to be like you one day,” Noah Lyles said, referring to his mom and her resilience.

Her Instagram also shows that she is behind the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation. The organization’s mission “as a non-profit, is to empower youth through the advancement of health & wellness in communities nationwide.”

Bishop is the foundation’s president and can be seen hosting and coordinating fundraising events, clinics, and workshops that support health and wellness, offer college prep, and provide mental health tools and resources.

Balancing it all, Bishop’s work with other parents is made possible through her own consulting firm, Bishop Athletics Consulting LLC, where she serves as CEO.