The 2024 Paris Olympics were legendary for so many reasons. Alongside the hype, excitement, and thrill at the French capital, the sporting extravaganza was also momentary. And, Netflix’s SPRINT lets us revisit all our favorite moments from the Summer Games. One of them would have to be watching Noah Lyles break a 20-year drought in the 100m event. With a blistering 9.784 seconds, the sprinter edged his fiercest rival, Kishane Thompson, for the Olympic 100m Champion title.

Let’s not forget about Gabby Thomas either! The track and field star was determined to turn things around after her bronze medal performance in the Japanese capital. And boy, did she redeem herself. The sprinter clinched not one, not two, but three Olympic golds at Stade de France. With this, she became the fifth woman in track and field history to accomplish this feat at the same Games. However, while they prepared to shut the naysayers down, the duo shared an amusing moment. What could it be? Let’s find out!

Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas rejoice over small victories

The streaming platform giant released the documentary’s second part four months after the season gripped the world. The cameras followed the world’s fastest humans as they prepared to chase Olympic glory. However, amid all the excitement, we also got the chance to witness what goes on behind the scenes. In episode 2, Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas are cooling down with a sports massage after practice. However, curiosity got the better of the 27-year-old and he couldn’t help but ask, “Gabby, how high has your social media gone up since SPRINT came out?” 

So, what did the Olympic 200m champion have to say? “Oh, a lot, yeah. I’ve gained a lot of followers. It’s been crazy,” she admitted. On the other hand, Lyles put a number to it. His follower count would increase by 5k to 10k a day. However, while this caught the sprinter by surprise, she confirmed she’d gained about the same number. For the unversed, the first season of the series followed the sprinters during the build-up to the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. 

It also happened to be one of the most-watched shows on the streaming platform and had garnered 10 million views within a week. On the other hand, all of the stars benefited from the show’s rise to popularity. Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas’ digital footprint received a massive boost. In fact, they noticed a five-figure rise. The former’s followers increased to 76,682, while the latter saw a rise of 38,383. But why was this so exciting for them? 

The Olympians use their platforms for a greater cause

With great power comes great responsibility. Both the sprinters etched their names in history at the Stade de France. However, their need to bring a change goes beyond the track. The Olympic 100m champion reiterates how more followers would give them more power. Yet, this seemed like a great opportunity for them, given how Thomas reacts with “Hashtag feels incredible.” This can be chalked up to how essential one’s persona should be in this day and age. 

It’s not just about being an incredible athlete anymore. No, that’s a thing of the past. Now, they can build a connection with their audience by bridging the gap with regular updates or even the occasional interaction. This doesn’t just stop at Instagram or TikTok and many even utilize other digital platforms. Gabby Thomas noticed this phenomenon during her time in the Japanese capital. She believes that the platform has helped raise awareness on a crucial subject – gender inequality in sports. In fact, this is one of the many reasons that the visibility and progression of women’s disciplines have improved.

However, she isn’t the only one. Noah Lyles seems to have the same idea. He believes winning medals is fulfilling, but that is only the beginning. The sprinter wants to help people move outside the sport so they can work towards reinventing themselves. On August 29, the sprinter teamed up with Alltroo via his nonprofit organization, The Lyles Brother Sports Foundation, to empower children about health and wellness. He shared an Instagram post with his mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, the foundation’s President, and announced an inspiring opportunity. One lucky winner would get the chance to claim a pair of signed spikes from the Olympian, a VIP trip to Boston, and a $1,000 shopping spree at Adidas.

Clawing their way to the top came with many difficulties but all the adversity and hard work paid off in the end. So, if they can do it, what’s stopping anyone else? This is one of the many opportunities the duo has taken to encourage the next generation and elevate the sport’s exposure. Have you watched Netflix’s SPRINT yet?