Noah Lyles and speechlessness, two words that rarely belong in the same sentence. Especially when you bring up Grand Slam Track or Michael Johnson, two names he’s tangled with before. “And if a tree falls in the woods… did it make a sound?” That was one of his first public shots at the league, aimed squarely at its lackluster marketing. Now, nine months later, as Grand Slam Track unravels and ultimately collapses, Lyles seems silent, or is he?

Everything was going well, and then the bombshell dropped. “The decision to conclude the inaugural Grand Slam Track season is not taken lightly, but one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season, and the importance of looking towards 2026 and beyond,” said Michael Johnson, Founder and Commissioner of Grand Slam Track and just like that the league meant to revolutionize track and field ended before its last slam because of financial reasons. Noah Lyles was asked to comment on this after the USATF Championships. His response is shocking and unique in its way…

At the 2025 USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Noah Lyles delivered a sharp 10.05‑second performance in the men’s 100 m heats, but another highlight of the event is his comment over GST. The Olympian said in an interview after the heats on August 31st, which is streaming on Citius Mag’s YouTube channel, “I mean, I think I said it all my podcast. Everything ain’t true. Unfortunately, there’s nothing much more to be said.” Yes, that’s it. A mature, short, and meaningful reply from the champion, speaking only enough at the right place. While the ‘Beyond the Records’ podcast no longer exists following the league’s collapse, Lyles did address the situation in another recent interview

In a conversation with host James Emeritt on June 18, Lyles reflected on the collapse. “I’d say my predictions were kind of dead on, unfortunately. I mean, they did say they had to pull out of their last competition in LA due to financial issues and unfortunately, that’s never good to hear,” he said, “because that means that you weren’t able to make it the first full year, full season, accomplishing all the goals that you had planned.”

Noah Lyles would have been an incredible addition to Grand Slam Track. As an Olympic 100 m champion and American record-holder in the 200 m, his inclusion would instantly elevate the short‑sprint category. Interestingly, he had the option of coming to it; he was offered the opportunity. But he refused.

Why didn’t Noah Lyles come to the Grand Slam Track?

In a podcast with Cam Newton’s Funky Friday in June 2025, Noah Lyles explained why he chose not to join the Grand Slam Track league. His decision boiled down to two main reasons: the contract offer did not reflect his value, and he had strong doubts about the league’s marketing strength and visibility. “When he came to me and asked me to be a part of it, he gave me a number,” Lyles said. “And we said that number is not a fraction of what my worth is right now.” Fans bashed him for this, but it wasn’t just dollars.

The Olympian talked of how, after the Games, he revisited the idea with Johnson, hopeful they could find new terms. “I said I still like what you’re doing. I’d like to be a part of it, but if I’m not going to financially gain on one side, I have to, market-wise, get value from it,” the reigning world champion added. “And at the time, he could not give me enough reason in my head to believe that I was going to—marketwise—get enough value from it.” 

The Olympic gold medalist was concerned that the league lacked the marketing reach necessary to grow the sport and benefit its athletes. He pointed out on the podcast that the public, even a sports star like Cam Newton, had not heard of Grand Slam Track, to which Newton replied, “No,” confirming his argument. But let’s say Grand Slam Track comes back in 2026, what are the chances Noah Lyles is coming?