Love him or hate him, American sprinter Noah Lyles is the face of track and field. In a sport that still clings to unwritten rules of decorum, the 28-year-old has made a splash by being a showman, famously calling his shot in the 100-meter event at the Paris Olympics before taking gold with the fastest American time in history.
This week, Lyles joins “The Athletic Show” to talk about building off that moment and where he wants to take the sport while he’s its biggest name.
“I wouldn’t say made it, I’d say I made a mark,” he says of his Paris performance. “I’ve seen tons of people who have made marks. It’s about what you do with the mark.”
Lyles believes track athletes can reach the same heights as stars in the “Big Four” sports, despite the long gaps between high-profile events. Part of it is storytelling- giving fans a reason to stay tuned in outside of the Olympics and World Championships. Another part is athletes understanding they are on their own to give fans something to invest in.
“In a sport that is individual, there is no team. You’re following your favorite person, and that person is human. The fanbase doesn’t have to cheer for you. They have so many other options. There’s not a home team or an away team; there’s just that person,” he says. “I want to perform just as much as any of these other athletes [from other sports] on the biggest stages. If I can elevate the level we are at, those opportunities start to arrive.”
Lyles certainly has a massive fanbase, and going from a kid with severe asthma to the World’s Fastest Man is a story that keeps people hooked, but a sprinter’s time in the spotlight is brief. As he nears 30, Lyles has entered a career chapter in which legacy becomes a motivator and longevity becomes an opponent.
“How do you make it last the longest, but at the same time, stay having fun?” he wonders. “How do you make sure the signature keeps signing throughout time?”
You can watch the full conversation on the latest episode of “The Athletic Show” on Fire TV and wherever you get your podcasts.
