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Noah Lyles opens up about challenges in revolutionizing track and field, facing resistance and exploring new ideas for the sport's future.
Olympic champion Noah Lyles has carved out a place as both a dominant athlete and an outspoken advocate for change in the sport.
Fresh off clinching the 100m Olympic gold medal and defending his double-world championship titles, Lyles has proven his prowess on the track.
But off the track, his quest to revolutionize the sport has been an uphill battle, rife with frustration and resistance from the powers that be.
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In an eye-opening interview with LetsRun.com’s Jonathan Gault, the 27-year-old sprinter opened up about his struggles to push track and field into the mainstream.
“It’s been really difficult,” said Lyles, reflecting on the challenges he’s encountered.
“I’ve kind of started coming to realizations that I don’t think the sport wants to change,” he confessed during the interview.
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Despite presenting compelling evidence alongside his agent—highlighting how innovative strategies have worked wonders in other sports—Lyles said his proposals are often dismissed.
“Almost like they’re very content, where they are,” he remarked.
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Lyles did not name specific individuals or organizations, but his frustration with track and field decision-makers was clear.
“They usually kind of fall on deaf ears,” he said, adding, “We want to be heard as athletes.”
One recent example of athlete-led innovation was the success of Gabby Thomas teaming up with Alexis Ohanian to launch Athlos NYC, a groundbreaking event that became the highest-paid competition in women’s track and field history.
This endeavor, spearheaded by the Reddit co-founder, was inspired by the lack of pay equity in events like the Diamond League.
While Lyles applauded such efforts, he said the sport still needs systemic change.
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In the same interview, host Robert Johnson asked Lyles about another ambitious project led by sprinting legend Michael Johnson, the Grand Slam Track (GST) initiative.
Much like Athlos NYC, GST aims to overhaul the financial structure of track and field by introducing a $12.6 million prize pool for athletes, a potential game-changer for a sport where shoe sponsorships dominate earnings.
Lyles expressed cautious optimism about GST but emphasized one critical issue: visibility.
“Personally, I just need to see a TV provider. The problem with our sport right now is we have great performances, but nobody’s able to see them,” he said.
While GST has struggled to secure broadcast and streaming deals, Lyles acknowledged its potential for “powerful” change in the industry.
A key aspect of GST’s model could disrupt the dominance of shoe contracts as the primary income source for track and field athletes.
“If they handle it right, [it] has the potential to rock a lot of shoe contracts,” said Lyles.
He explained that the prize money could give athletes more leverage in negotiations.
“They get to go back, you know, to their sponsor and say, ‘Hey! You know… I don’t really need you anymore."
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