Noah Lyles is not just a force on the track—he’s a style icon in his own right. Known for his bold, unapologetic personality, Lyles turns heads not only with his performances but also with his fashion game. His runway debut at New York Fashion Week? Totally in line with his larger-than-life vibe. Part of his signature look is his vibrant braids, but let’s not forget his nails, which have become a whole mood.

At the US Olympic Trials, Lyles brought the theatrics. He made an entrance with Snoop Dogg, teased the crowd with a briefcase, pulled out some Yu-Gi-Oh! cards for good measure, and showed off some pearl-polished nails complete with crosses. Fast forward to Paris, and his nails were reading ‘icon’—literally. For the 100m race, he took it up a notch, rocking stars, crosses, and lightning bolts. And, of course, he backed it up on the track, winning the showdown against Kishane Thompson while flashing those colorful nails as he crossed the finish line.

During the Paris Olympics and the Olympic trials, Noah Lyles’ nails were trending everywhere. Just like Sha’Carri Richardson, people were also noticing his bold nail art choices. But while Lyles is getting high-fives for his fashion choices, Alabama Crimson Tide freshman Ryan Williams isn’t receiving the same love. Williams told reporters during Alabama’s bye week that his 13-year-old sister had painted his nails green, and instead of applause, he got dragged on X (formerly Twitter). Apparently, some folks still think nail art is ‘feminine’ for a guy.

One user, Allen Childs, wasn’t having it and came to Williams’ defense saying, “To all of the haters: painting nails meaning someone is feminine or weak is a totally arbitrary, made-up convention. Williams is dominating 23-year-olds on the field. What he does off-field is irrelevant and his choice. If Williams and his sister enjoy that, then that’s great, IMO.” And Despite the trolls, it seems like Williams isn’t going to stop letting his sister work her magic with that nail polish anytime soon.

When reporters asked Ryan Williams about his bold choice of green nails, he simply said it matched his green suit. “I wore these with my green suit. So, we’ll change it up pretty much every week,” the wide receiver explained. If he sticks to his plan, we can expect to see a new nail color during his next game—and he shows no signs of backing down!

While some social media users might raise an eyebrow, Ryan seems unbothered by the criticism. His nail polish stance draws parallels to Noah Lyles, who’s often praised for his fashion choices but hasn’t always had an easy ride in the spotlight either!

Noah Lyles owns his manicured nails with confidence, and he’s not alone!

Noah Lyles confidently addressed the criticism surrounding his painted nails, particularly the bold “ICON” he showcased at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. He expressed to Us Weekly that he understands not everyone will appreciate his style, but he finds the reactions entertaining.

“I’m a person who knows that a lot of people have different opinions and they have them for different reasons. To be honest, I’m so confident in myself that it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s funny at times,” shared the Olympic champion. Ultimately, he sees his unique fashion choices as part of what makes him relatable and enjoyable to his fans. And he’s not the only one!

Like Lyles, the UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya also rocks polished nails whenever he fights an opponent. For this, he has been regularly ridiculed. But, with a record of 24-4, his performance speaks volumes. In an episode of UFC Embedded, he humorously explained his nail art, saying, “I mean, if you’re gonna put this in someone else’s face, on someone else’s mouth, it’d be rude not to paint them. So, I love the drip tips.” Both athletes have faced unwarranted criticism from their communities for various reasons, but that negativity hasn’t deterred them from delivering outstanding performances—and here’s hoping it never will!