Noah Lyles’ 2-Year Spike Holdout Hints at a Bigger Play With Adidas

After winning the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles wasn’t just making headlines for his blazing speed—his shoes were stealing the spotlight too. Lyles made Olympic history on the track, and at the same time, sneaker history. The 27-year-old star rocked the Adidas Adizero Y-3 spikes at Stade de France—yeah, those Y-3s. For anyone not in the know, the Y-3 is one of the coolest collabs under the Adidas umbrella. The “Y” stands for Yohji Yamamoto, the legendary Japanese designer. The “3” is a nod to the three iconic adidas stripes, and the dash in between? That’s all about the bond between Yohji and Adidas. The Y-3 is all about blending tech wear with bold design—think futuristic shapes, sleek fabrics, and a whole lot of style. So of course, Lyles showed up with the fashionable spikes Adidas could dream up. But it isn’t the end of the story. 

Noah Lyles has been rocking with Adidas since way back in 2016. He’s been one of their main guys—front and center in global campaigns, from a pre-Olympic anime-themed ad in 2021 to even walking in a Y-3 fashion show in Paris. Yeah, Noah doesn’t just run fast—he knows how to make a statement off the track too. And let’s not forget that monster deal he signed with Adidas last year. Word on the street? It’s the biggest contract in the current track and field scene. That’s major. But here’s where it gets interesting—despite all the glitz, the campaigns, and that massive paycheck, there’s a twist to this story. Something feels… different this time.

In the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin threw out a pretty solid question to Rodney Green—why isn’t Noah Lyles rocking the latest Adidas spikes? I mean, Noah always shows up in the freshest, most up-to-date Adidas uniforms, so what gives with the older spike models? Gatlin didn’t hold back. He straight up said, “So maybe he’s [Noah Lyles] saying, this is what I want to wear. If you want me to wear the newer versions, then let’s talk about collaboration on making my spike.” Basically, Noah might be making a statement—if Adidas wants him in the newest gear, it better be something he had a hand in creating. But is it going to be a safe game, played with a brand like adidas? 

Rodney Green wasn’t exactly on board with Gatlin’s take. He shut it down real quick— “If he’s [Noah Lyles] playing that game, that’s a dangerous game,” he said. So what’s the danger here? Well, Rodney broke it down. Noah’s already done something huge—a three-peat at the World Championships in Budapest. That alone gives him some serious leverage. But Rodney made it clear: if Noah wants to play hardball with Adidas—like pushing for his own custom spike or holding out on wearing the latest ones—he better back it up with another triple gold at the Olympics. Otherwise? That bargaining power disappears real quick.

Rodney’s warning was pretty blunt. He basically said Noah needs to stay locked in. Focused. Because if he starts letting off-the-track stuff distract him—like branding battles or gear demands—it could mess with his performance. And if things don’t go his way? “Oh,” Rodney said, “God help him.” So what’s Noah actually asking for? It sounds like he wants more creative control—maybe even a signature sneaker built to his specs.

Noah Lyles has been demanding his signature sneaker 

After Noah Lyles sprinted to gold in the men’s 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, it wasn’t just his time that had people talking—it was what he said after the race that really lit the fuse. “…I want a sneaker. Ain’t no money in spikes. There’s money in sneakers.” Boom. Just like that, Lyles dropped the mic—and social media exploded. Sports media picked it up, fans debated, and suddenly, the conversation wasn’t about his gold medal or his top speed. It was about shoes. More specifically, why Noah—arguably the face of American track—still doesn’t have a signature sneaker deal.

But Noah Lyles didn’t stop there. He turned the heat up on Adidas, questioning why the brand gave NBA star Anthony Edwards a signature shoe—before Edwards had even made it to an NBA Finals. Lyles wasn’t throwing shade at Edwards personally, but he made his point loud and clear: “You want to invite me to [an event for] a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals?… And you’re giving him a shoe? All I’m asking is, ‘How could you not see that for me?’” 

It wasn’t just a gripe about footwear—it was a bigger statement about value, visibility, and recognition in track and field. But not everyone’s buying it. Some critics say Lyles is playing a risky game, putting brand pressure ahead of performance. Others think he’s absolutely right—it’s time track stars got sneaker deals that match their star power. Either way, one thing’s for sure: Noah Lyles isn’t just racing for medals anymore. He’s racing for legacy—and a shoe with his name on it.