Noah Lyles transcends mere sprinting as he delivers a performance distinctly characterized by his unique approach. The reigning Olympic 100m champion embodies the spirit of track and field as its self-styled entertainer-in-chief. This charismatic athlete captivates audiences with animated entrances and enthusiastic celebrations, whether it’s pulling a Yu-Gi-Oh card from his sleeve or unleashing a Dragon Ball-style power-up scream just before the race. But there are always two sides to every story when it comes to points of view.

For some, he represents the dynamic and controversial force that the sport has long sought; for others, his behavior crosses into the realm of unsportsmanlike arrogance, detracting from the essence of the competition. In a recent interview with Olympics.com, Lyles offered a sincere and thoughtful explanation for his theatrical displays, presenting them not as mere competitiveness but rather as a gesture intended for the enjoyment of the audience.

“I do it for myself. This is for me and the audience,” he explained. “I want everybody to have a good time. I want everybody to be excited when they come and watch me perform.” In elaborating on his thoughts, the Olympic champion remarked, “When they leave, I want them to say, ‘I would have never got that type of energy if I just watched it on TV.’ Like, that was amazing. I want to come back for more.”

This philosophy elevates the stadium beyond a simple venue, transforming it into a collective environment with all the fans of the sport, with Lyles serving as its energetic curator. This viewpoint is firmly anchored in his belief that track and field has historically grappled with a significant lack of compelling narratives.

Lyles believes that for a sport to genuinely engage a worldwide audience, it must offer compelling narratives and rivalries rooted in purpose, transcending the mere act of athletes lining up at the start. He highlights legendary matchups in various sports, expressing disappointment that track rarely manages to foster comparable excitement.

“When somebody has a dog in the fight, they’re more entertained and more willing to participate. When you have no reason to cheer, you have no reason to care,” he said.

His showmanship serves as a personal endeavor to inject each race with the narrative and character that may otherwise be absent, providing fans with a vibrant personality to engage with and a memorable spectacle to cherish. This outward confidence is the result of a challenging personal journey, lending an added layer of authenticity to his performance.

Noah Lyles battled through these to become the person he is currently

Noah Lyles, the man who now captivates stadiums with his electrifying performances, was once a shy and introverted student, navigating the challenges of dyslexia and ADHD. Teachers recall a quiet observer who took years to find his voice.

“He was the typical student, a little shy at first, because you have to remember, as a junior he’s still trying to find himself as a young man, as a high school student, trying to fit in with what’s going on around him,” said Leslie A. Jones, who once urged a young Lyles to express his thoughts, witnessing his confidence gradually flourish.

His public persona, therefore, is not a mask but an act of liberation. “I don’t feel the pressure because I’m just having fun. All I gotta do is be me. I constantly tell kids all the time, ‘Be yourself.’ And if people see me as being corny, shoot, I’m corny. But guess what? I’m winning while being corny,” Lyles said.

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Even his longtime coach, Lance Brauman, expressed no objections to his pupil revealing this aspect of himself, provided he continues to arrive at practice punctually each day. “It’s a special quality in him. That’s what he does. He loves it and that gets him going,” Brauman remarked, reflecting on Lyle’s personality. “I told him before we got here, ‘Hey, at the end of the day, you gotta be you. And whatever that is, that’s what you have to do.’ He is who he is and he showed up when he’s supposed to and that’s all I can ask for.”

Lyles has made certain that when he takes to the track, spectators are captivated not only by the finish line but by the extraordinary spectacle that unfolds throughout the race.