Do Grant Holloway and Noah Lyles share a similar future? It seems so, and Justin Gatlin inadvertently revealed this connection. After Lyles clinched the gold in the 100m, Holloway also made headlines by winning the gold in the men’s 110m hurdles final at the Paris Olympics with a time of 12.99 seconds. For years, it has been clear that he’s the world’s top men’s 110m hurdler, and this triumph solidifies that status. However, following Paris, there has been speculation about whether both athletes will participate in the Brussels Diamond League, which is raising anticipation for their next moves.

Grant Holloway has made the tough decision to step out of the Brussels Diamond League finals this season, a choice that comes at a bittersweet time. This year, he celebrated significant victories, including gold at the Prefontaine Classic, Monaco DL, Silesia DL, and Zürich DL, with only a silver medal in Lausanne as a blemish on his record. What makes his decision even more heartbreaking is that, during the event held on September 13-14, Noah Lyles also opted out of the finals, highlighting a shared moment of absence for two of the sport’s biggest stars. But what next? Since then, neither Holloway nor Lyles have raced.

In a recent interview with Ready Set Go, host Justin Gatlin addressed the issue, suggesting that Holloway’s team and agents need to be more aggressive in pursuing deals beyond just shoe sponsorships. He noted that while agents typically focus on those contracts, they should be seeking out other opportunities, like partnerships with grooming brands, given Holloway’s always sharp haircut. Gatlin’s insights highlight the need for more creativity in promoting athletes like Holloway, who deserve equal recognition alongside stars like Lyles.

Currently, Holloway’s sponsors include Fitaid, UBS, Adidas, Perry, and more. However, Gatlin believes there’s potential for expanding his brand presence even further. According to him, “This is exactly what I would do with Grant. I would market him as the complete athlete. Why I say the complete athlete? Because everyone looks for the fastest athlete, right? Who’s the fastest man in the world?” He continues, “This is the most complete athlete in the world. He owns every title in his event; he’s gunning for the Olympic rec and the world record, right? So that’s something that fans now can follow him.”

It’s worth noting that Noah Lyles is the world’s fastest man in the 100m, while Grant Holloway has rarely lost a single race or heat since the Olympics (he clinched the 2nd spot in the Lausanne 100mH Diamond League race for 13.14s and Galà dei Castelli in Switzerland 110mH for 13.23s). He’s currently ranked number one in the world for the 110m hurdles on the World Athletics website. Meanwhile, Lyles, now ranking 1st in the 100m, achieved a season-best time of 9.79 seconds in Paris, solidifying his status as the fastest man in that event.

Gatlin further emphasized Holloway’s versatility, saying, “Now you take him, and he was an outstanding football player too, bro. You take him, put him on ESPN, put him on there as one of the guest correspondents for one of the football games, have him talk about what he sees in the game, what it was for him when he played… Bro, you only get this amount of time when you’re in the Olympics; as an Olympic athlete, you get attention this amount (shows a big portion in gestures), and with Rule 40, you get attention this amount (showing a comparatively small portion). You feel me?”

Gatlin added that Grant should “keep his persona hot, keep him relevant, keep him talking about things that’s in the media… make em make jokes, laugh about it—we want to see who you are, and I think that’s how I would look at it when it comes to him.” And that’s exactly what Noah Lyles is doing right now.

Noah Lyles’s candidness is making waves

Since the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles hasn’t participated in any races, but he has remained a familiar face on ESPN, where he frequently shares his thoughts on various topics, including football. Lyles has found himself at the center of a notable controversy with NFL player Tyreek Hill. This all started when Lyles asserted that Super Bowl champions shouldn’t be labeled “world champions,” a statement that ignited outrage among NFL fans, particularly from Hill.

The situation escalated when Lyles humorously forgot Hill’s name during an interview, referring to him as “the Cheetah guy from football.” In a more serious tone during a recent ESPN interview, Lyles addressed Hill’s challenge to race, confidently reaffirming his title as the “fastest man” and emphasizing that achieving such status requires hard work and dedication, not just speed.

Lyles’s outspoken nature has allowed fans to connect with his authentic self, fostering a sense of trust and admiration. This candid attitude has contributed significantly to his rising popularity, making him a beloved figure not only in track and field but also in the broader sports community. On the other hand, while Grant Holloway has also achieved much success, he hasn’t quite reached the same level of fame as Lyles.

Holloway, who understands the value of self-promotion, acknowledged this dynamic. A few months ago, Holloway put it, “Someone asked me earlier, like, if you talked a little bit more, if you ran your mouth a little bit more, you will get more sponsors or you will have more deals, or vice versa. I simply responded, saying, ‘I know I’m great. I just don’t be in everybody’s face because I’m content with the way I live my life.'” In contrast, Noah Lyles’s outspoken nature has paid off significantly. His candid approach has helped him secure major sponsorships, including with Celsius, Adidas, Gatorade, and Beats by Dre. Following his gold medal win, Lyles even hinted at the next big step in his career—launching his own signature sneaker.

But Justin Gatlin believes that Holloway could benefit from adopting a similar approach to connecting with fans. By following Lyles’s lead and being more outspoken, Holloway could enhance his visibility and create a stronger bond with his audience, helping him to shine even brighter in the spotlight.