Noah Lyles took a leap from the podium in Budapest and landed directly in a huge controversy. The U.S. sprinter caught global attention with his triple gold-winning performances at the World Athletics Championships. While his lightning-fast speed was enough to set the track world ablaze, Lyles wanted to make sure his voice was heard off the track as well. 

Noah Lyles went on a controversial slant during his post-race interview and attacked some of America’s top athletes. His shot at the NBA was not overlooked by the legendary athletes and their fan base. In hindsight, the sprinting icon has realized the impact of his words, yet he has retained his nonchalant attitude.  

Noah Lyles reflects on controversial comments

Noah Lyles raised a storm of controversy when he expressed his frustration with the “world champion” title bestowed upon the winning NBA squad. He lampooned the NBA legends such as Kevin Durant and Aaron Gordon, questioning, “world champion of what? The United States?” The NBA world clapped back with a wave of backlash. Months later, just as the dust was finally settling, Noah Lyles stirred the pot once again.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports, the double-world champion said, “For example, I’ll take the NBA situation. A lot of people in the track world said, ‘Oh, your moment of winning three golds at world championships got overshadowed by the NBA situation’. But in my head, by gaining those medals, I finally got enough recognition and notoriety that people actually listened to what I had been saying”. 

The cool guy of track and field wants to make his sport have an equal fanbase as the NBA. According to Lyles, even his hard-earned medals are beyond just personal accolades but a means to forge a new path for the sport. 

Noah Lyles paving the way for track and field’s future

Just after securing the contract with Adidas in 2016, Noah Lyles had formulated a plan for himself and his sport. With a vision to “transcend the sport,” Noah Lyles has decided to rise beyond his allotted platform and bring more eyeballs to track and field. He said, “I refuse to just be another athlete that is known for running. It’s not me. I specifically said, I know what [Usain] Bolt has done, I want to do more”. Not only that, he recently created intrigue with a tweet about his future. 

Read More: “Shut Your Mouth”: NBA World Cancels Noah Lyles’ American Glory After Controversial Slant on Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Others

Lyles stated, “One day they will realize that most of my big plans have nothing to do with running but with the business of the sport.” He has come a long way in his track and field journey. Now, he is adding more layers to his plan that will captivate more audiences in the future. 

Watch this story: Noah Lyles Eyeing on Shattering Another Record of Usain Bolt After Breaking the Sprinting Legend’s Record in Seven Years