“Hard work is worthless for those that don’t believe in themselves.” – Naruto Uzumaki had the right idea of what climbing an uphill battle is like. Noah Lyles has never shied away from sharing in incessant love for anime. The sprinter has always found a way to combine his passion for the sport and anime. For him, it’s never just been about racing or winning. The 27-year-old has made it clear that he wants to build a legacy. 

While fans often remember him for his boisterous personality, the sight of him pulling out a Yu-Gi-Oh card at the U.S. Olympic Trials is something most won’t forget. Even though that quirky display won him several bonus points, another big name has joined the conversation. Pop singer Zayn Malik recently shocked several fans at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel livestream. The mysterious Shadow Duelist Nocturne kept making an appearance, but no one knew who it was.

Many already had an inkling about who the ‘celebrity in disguise’ was because of the obvious clues they dropped earlier in the month. But watching the Brit singer slowly pull off the gold and black mask with glowing green eyes, had fans absolutely lose their minds. The voice-over actor, Kestin Howard, expressed his excitement about the iconic moment of X. However, he couldn’t help but compare it to a certain sprinter. “So first we have YuGiOh represented at the Olympics with Noah Lyles, and now we have @zaynmalik rolling up to a tournament as a masked player named Nocturne. What a time for this game, man 😂.” Could there be a better crossover? We don’t think so! 

But is the singer a fan of the game? “Yeah, I’m a big, big Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. I’ve been into Yu-Gi-Oh! for a long time, since I was a small kid. So it’s an honor to be here, to do this, and it was very exciting.” During the final stage of the evening, Malik offered some integral game-play commentary with the hosts. We can only assume he took inspiration from the 2024 Paris Olympics 100m gold medalist. Noah Lyles made his love for the popular digital game apparent in June. 

At the U.S. Olympic Trials, fans witnessed a Yu-Gi-Oh! affair. He walked in carrying a silver briefcase alongside Snoop Dogg. He then showed fans what he had inside – his race kit and a card from the series. During the 100m finals, the 6-time World Champion pulled out the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card. The white dragon is often known as the ultimate monster from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series. This truly got everyone excited.

But wait, there’s more! He pulled out a rare card during his second event: a piece of Exodia the Forbidden One. According to the first series of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, a player could combine all 5 cards to make up the Egyptian God. If they do this, they’d pretty much win the game. While Lyles didn’t have all 5 cards on him, he showed up with just the head! We now understand why the 27-year-old calls himself a self-proclaimed geek. 

Your favorite track athletes are a part of the anime fandom!

While Noah Lyles has made several anime references on the track, his Jamaican rival, Kishane Thompson, often professes his love on his Instagram feed. In 2023, he shared an image of Asta, the main protagonist from Black Clover. Alongside the image was a heartfelt caption, ending with, “I may be the odd one out, but I’ll use that to my advantage and surprise everyone.” Many pointed out how, just like Asta, Thompson was the new favorite as he made his way to the Paris Olympics. Since then, he has continued to make several references to his story, often sharing captions from his own experience. 

2024 Paris Olympics 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek has also been a huge anime fan just like his compatriot. While his Instagram feed is just as colorful and whimsical, his name is an obvious giveaway, too. His Instagram handle ‘Kung Fu Kenny’ comes from his ambition to stand out, but it’s also because he found a few to the anime character. They’re both quiet and humble. But the character is also known for being disciplined, dedicated, and respectful – all the things Bednarek ensures he portrays on and off the track.

The sprinting legend, Usain Bolt, might have several records to his name. But did you know the speedster is an ardent anime fan? In fact, that’s what grabbed his attention back in 2021. When he was asked how he liked doing in his free time, “And I’m a binge-watcher, so I like to find a good series and watch. I like to watch Anime, that’s something that right now.” We would love to know what his favorite anime was or is! But we’re now calling all anime fans. What do you think about these track stars showing off a completely different side? Let us know in the comments!