An X post had recently floated the idea of introducing the Hall of Fame for track and field athletes. Known to promote track and field vehemently beyond the field, Noah Lyles took no time to cast his vote of approval in the matter. Now, Michael Johnson nodded to the need for such an institution. This step came just days after Michael Johnson’s announcement to introduce the USD 30 million funded league. So things have taken a further height. 

Sharing the same X post that Noah had shared, Michael Johnson put two emojis, showcasing the ‘right’ and ‘penning’ marks on it. The actual post says, “Need a Track & Field Hall of Fame!!! Glamorizing our sport will allow its status amongst the masses to grow and give it a greater allure as well as grandeur.” This adds another page to the longstanding discussion about the lack of recognition of track and field athletes. Both Noah and Michael Johnson have been quite vocal about that.

Noah Lyles has always been eager to establish a platform to make the exchanges easy for both the veteran and the current track and field athletes. He remained open to accepting any approach to make things look good. So when the proposal for a Hall of Fame title floated on X, Noah Lyles grabbed it. The 6x world champion also revealed having a detailed discussion on it with his manager, Mark Wetmore. “I been Telling Mark Wetmore this. We need one really bad,” Not only on this occasion, Noah and Johnson were on the same page on some previous occasions as well.

In the past, both remained vocal about the lack of financial support in track and field sports. Moreover, both batted for an additional league apart from the competitions under the banner of World Athletics to invite investments and limelights to the track and field sports. The result was the announcement of the USD 30 million funded league that might go air in 2025. Now, Michael Johnson’s support for the Hall of Fame has raised hopes to witness another path-breaking step in the sport. But, what should be the representation of the Hall of Fame where there are already a few from the USATF and World Athletics? 

The austerity of the Hall of Fame in the view of Noah Lyles 

Both USATF and World Athletics have their separate institutions to commemorate the finest track and field athletes in the Hall of Fame. The USATF established the museum where the evolution of sports is already showcased with the sporting giants who sailed over it to reach their ultimatum. For the World Athletics, the situation is less glittery. 

The World Athletics website showcases a bunch of track and field athletes who rose to fame by defeating complexities. Michael Johnson found his place there because of his achievements in the 200m and 400m events. But the Hall of Fame gallery is not updated. Noah Lyles also came up with the same complaint. According to him, the existing ones stand outdated. Instead, Noah Lyles voted for a venture with a lot of hype and lucrative prizes that might help the track and field athletes break their financial shambles. It remains to be seen if the wish of a Hall of Fame comes to fruition after backing from two prominent stars of the sport.