When you think of the world’s fastest man in 2024, you might not picture him as a big fan of Dragon Ball Z, Yu-Gi-Oh, or League of Legends. But Noah Lyles is turning that notion on its head! Not only did this American sprinter sprint to gold in the 100m at the Paris Olympics with a jaw-dropping 9.79 seconds, but he also nabbed bronze in the 200m, even while grappling with COVID-19. It turns out you can be the fastest person on the planet and still wear your geeky heart on your sleeve just to elevate track and field and be a hero.

Recently, Noah Lyles expressed his excitement for the League Championship Series (LCS), where teams compete for top honors and a chance to represent North America globally. He commented on a post about a recent LCS game featuring an Aura team member, captioning it with “The confidence.” His comment on X shows just how much he admires the high stakes and intensity of the game.

But Lyles isn’t just a casual fan. In today’s world, where younger audiences are all about gaming, he’s cleverly tying his track and field passion to this trend. By getting involved in the gaming scene, he’s subtly shining a light on track and field, helping to promote the sport in a fresh and engaging way.

In the U.S., where sports like the NBA, NFL, and baseball dominate, track and field often fade into the background, only catching attention during the Olympics. Lyles has voiced his frustration about this low profile and is actively working to change it. Currently, track and field athletes mainly earn from the Diamond League, the Continental Tour, and the World Championships, with the fastest man in the world often earning less than athletes in major pro leagues, unless you factor in endorsements and appearance fees.

Despite track and field’s global popularity and its ability to fill stadiums with 25,000 fans, it remains an exception in a country that spends more on sports than anywhere else. While NBA players rake in huge salaries and attract international talent for that reason, track and field athletes like Lyles are still striving to gain the recognition and financial rewards they deserve. In recent years, Noah Lyles has frequently voiced frustration with the lack of recognition for track and field compared to other major sports.

His remarks about NBA champions being called “world champions” sparked significant media attention in 2023 and gained renewed attention during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The controversy flared again when Lyles criticized Adidas for unveiling a new shoe for NBA star Anthony Edwards, questioning why a player who hadn’t even reached an NBA Finals was getting such a spotlight while his own six-time world championship achievements seemed to go unnoticed.

Lyles’ comments show a persistent issue: track and field athletes often struggle for the same level of recognition and support as their counterparts in more popular sports. Despite securing what is reportedly the most lucrative track-and-field contract since Usain Bolt, Lyles’ frustration highlights the ongoing challenge of elevating track and field in a sports landscape that frequently prioritizes basketball and other major leagues. Being outspoken doesn’t make Lyles silent; rather, it demonstrates his unapologetic commitment to advocating for track and field.

Despite the limited opportunities in track and field, Noah Lyles is making step by step significant impact through his charitable work. His Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation (LBSF) empowers youth by promoting health and wellness, offering financial support to athletes, and providing resources on mental health, college prep, anti-bullying, and stress management.

Even with initiatives like Michael Johnson’s Track Slam, which offers a $100,000 (£78,683) top prize, Lyles remains committed to expanding the sport. He encourages everyone to join in, believing that with such legends involved, track and field’s growth is unstoppable. By doing so Noah Lyles is/ wants to be the face of sports. But at the same time, Lyles is a big fan of esports too as he has his gaming setup too.

Noah Lyles knows how to have his cake and eat it too

As a proud American, Noah Lyles is a big supporter of the Esports team 100 Thieves. The team even sent him an exclusive keyboard, which clearly thrilled him. On August 31st on X, Lyles showed his enthusiasm with a tweet celebrating 100 Thieves’ Game 5 win, saying, “@100Thieves with the game 5 win!!!”

When LCS asked if he’d be watching their upcoming match against @C9LoL, Lyles responded, “Of course! All the way from vacation.” And when LCS followed up about the possibility of 100 Thieves making it to the LCS Championship in LA, Lyles replied, “Unfortunately, I’ll be at NY Fashion Week. But I’ll be cheering no matter where I am!” It’s clear that Lyles’s support for his favorite team runs deep, no matter where he is. But that’s not all.

Recently, the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) shared a post on X, announcing that the waiting room is available one last time before Championship Weekend. This final match will pit 100 Thieves against Cloud9, determining the fate of both teams. Interestingly, Noah, with a caption of “let’s go,” seems to be hyping it up as well.

Last month, according to Bleacher Report, Lyles gave a peek into his gaming setup, and it’s pretty cool. He’s got a big desk that holds all his gear, including a large display and two custom keyboards. One of them is a special gift from his favorite League of Legends team, 100 Thieves. Lyles was pretty stoked about it, saying, “My favorite League of Legends team, 100 Thieves just offered to send me a custom board, so I’m pretty excited about that.”

While playing the game, he prefers a wired mouse to avoid any lag and has a top-notch gaming headset to complete his setup. Beyond gaming, Lyles is a big anime fan. He even brought a full set of Exodia Yu-Gi-Oh cards to the US Olympic Trials. He shared that getting the cards wasn’t easy since he couldn’t watch Yu-Gi-Oh until he was 13, so he had to hunt for the cards on eBay. It’s clear Lyles has a lot of interests and puts a lot of thought into his hobbies!