Rai Benjamin, Grant Holloway, and Noah Lyles are not just aiming for victory in the U.S. Olympic trials. Reminiscing the days of the 2022 World Athletics Championships, they’re advocating for an extra touch of grandeur in Hayward Field on the day of the finals of the Olympic Trials. With them, the World champion of 110-meter hurdles, Grant Holloway joined hands as well. Their request? Nothing short of military flyovers, which are generally reserved for championship events, to grace their crucial moments on the field.

As the athletes are geared up to charge towards the finish line, they want the jet airplanes to soar overhead, adding a pinch of drama to their athletic prowess. Back in the opening day of the 2022 World Athletics Championships, the roaring of a jet engine pierced through the Hayward Field before the 4×400 meter mixed relay. Adding to this, on the final day, an iconic Black Hawk helicopter flew overhead, gracing the conclusion of the event. And now, Lyles and Benjamin too placed their “special request”.

Noah Lyles, Benjamin, and Holloway share dreams of a flyover at trials while striving for Olympic gold

Both Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin secured podium place finishes in the World Athletics Championships 2022. Lyles bagged gold in the 200-meter dash in 19.31 seconds, dethroning Michael Johnson and shattering his long-standing record of 19.32. The then 24-year-old Holloway too won the gold medal in 110-meter hurdles in the 2022 Eugene World Championships. And on the other hand, Rai Benjamin finished in the second position after the Brazilian athlete, Alison dos Santos, in the 400-meter hurdles. 

Cut to 2024, the two are still keeping their dreams high for the Paris Olympics. While Noah Lyles has already secured his Olympic berth by winning the 100-meter, clocking a time of 9.83 on his home soil in Eugene, Benjamin is waiting for his turn to come soon as the trials for men’s 400-meter hurdles are to begin on June 27. Grant Holloway has already set his foot on the track for the first round of the 110-meter hurdle on June 24 but will have to wait for the semis and final round to secure his chance at Paris.

However, they went down memory lane and wanted a replay of a few moments from their 2022 World Championships days. Witnessing the women sprinters fight for their coveted spot on the train to Paris, the track trio wanted a “special thing” to happen on the final day of the trials. Recently, the track phenoms engaged in a lighthearted chat. 

Amid a discussion of their performances in trials and preparedness for the Paris Olympics, Lyles said, “I got special things, you know. I just have one request…I need a flyover. Please, whoever’s listening. Yes. Yes. We need a flyover. And F-35s.” But the interviewer countered Lyles by mentioning, “Those cost money.” However, Benjamin immediately backed Noah Lyles up and said, “Listen, we got the money.” While they engage in playful banter, they are also preparing to test their limits and vie for coveted spots in the limelight, while aiming for ultimate international glory in the Paris Olympics 2024. Will we see this wish come to light? Let us know in the comments below.