Noah Lyles has had a season to remember! From his impressive 19.77-second 200m sprint at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix to winning gold in the 100m at the Paris Olympics with a time of 9.78 seconds, Lyles has been an unstoppable force this season. Let’s not forget his performance at the Diamond League meet in London, where he clocked a 9.81-second 100m, pushing the limits of speed itself.

Despite a successful season, Noah Lyles’ journey off the track has been challenging. It’s not just about his own achievements; Lyles is also focused on highlighting what he believes track and field is missing.

Noah Lyles is frustrated over the ‘missing ingredient’

Noah’s frustration is not just valid but also justified. Despite all the wins he stacked this season, his earnings came up to $127,800 from various meets. This pay gap is exactly where Noah Lyles feels the track and field meets are falling short. The point stands true because his earnings are a sum of winnings from events like the World Indoor Championships, Bermuda Grand Prix, World Relays, World Indoor Championships, and the US Olympic Trials. Noah attributes this fall to not just the organizers.

Noah Lyles attributes a lot of the frustration with how sports like track and field are marketed and presented. In a recent interview, when asked about what he’d like to change in the sport, he didn’t hesitate or hold back!  “Yes, I change the marketing marketing has to be the first thing that goes,” he said. “It’s just a horrible job. We could be meeting everybody where they’re at. We could be inviting more people.” His frustration is evident, he sees a lack of showmanship.

“We need to make sure that we have the biggest crowd and saying hey, let’s condense the crowd,” Lyles added. “Let’s put on the best production possible and give people a show that they’re gonna rave and go home about and give the TV something that’s pleasing to the eye, that’s the entertainment portion I feel that we’re kind of missing.” Noah is not just talking about a minor change but a revolution in how the sport engages with its fandom.

Lyles went on to point out a clear demarcation and lack of equity. He went on to add, “When I got to the track world, I was like, ‘Yo, why aren’t we being seen in GQ? Why aren’t we having tunnel walks? Why aren’t we doing this and that?’” But Noah Lyles has never been one to go with the flow. He instead took a stand. “I eventually started going to track meets and saying, ‘Hey, if you want me to show up, you got to start adding tunnel walks’. This is how I saw us getting into the next market. This is how I saw us getting shown, other than just being on the track where we’re not getting as much notoriety.”

Some light at the end of the tunnel?

Noah Lyles isn’t fighting for equity alone! Other athletes have also voiced similar concerns. Decorated hurdler Grant Holloway joined the cause, recently declining to participate in the Brussels Diamond League final due to disagreements over prize money. Sprinting legend Carl Lewis has also been outspoken on the issue. On September 3, he criticized the Diamond League’s approach, calling it “about collusion and lowering athletes’ control and pay.” However, it is not all despair on the tracks! The Wanda Diamond League has taken a step towards change.

The Diamond League has responded to the call for change by increasing the prize money for the upcoming season. The total prize pool has been bumped up to $9.24 million, with individual meeting prizes now at $500,000. This significant boost is a promising step forward and offers a beacon of hope for athletes. While there is still a long journey ahead, this increase in funds is aimed at better supporting track and field endeavors. The sport’s story of turbulence is far from over, but with athletes like Noah Lyles advocating for change, the future looks brighter than ever!