Even in a sport defined by precision and discipline, Noah Lyles stands out for his flair. Whether leaping into a camera lens or donning Star Wars socks to salute “May the Fourth,” the American sprinter embraces performance as part of competition.
His energy is infectious, evident in Paris, where he stirred the crowd with practiced charm. Yet, amid all the cheer, there is one theatrical flourish that remains out of reach.
A Curious Absence in the Sport
Recently, in conversation with Sports Business Journal, Noah Lyles addressed a question few outside the track world have considered: why don’t track and field athletes celebrate their victories with champagne, like their counterparts in Formula One or professional cycling?
His response was refreshingly frank.
“Yeah, it has legal issues,” Noah Lyles admitted.
“There’s so many rules in track and field… but yes, legal issues. It looks bad on TV.”
While his tone was light, the comment pointed to a bigger issue. Track and field’s strict regulations, many of them relics from a more conservative sporting era, often stifle the kind of spontaneous celebrations that modern audiences have come to expect in other sports.
Lyles highlighted the cultural inconsistency in how various sports handle victory celebrations.
“They do it in Formula One,” Noah Lyles noted.
“They do it after triathlons.”
In other sports, moments of triumph are punctuated with champagne sprays and lighthearted indulgence, a visual cue for audiences to share in the celebration. In contrast, athletics events often deny their champions even a symbolic sip, opting instead for muted handshakes and carefully choreographed medal ceremonies.
A Fragmented Sport With Fragmented Rules
Unlike leagues such as the NBA or NFL, which are governed by singular, authoritative bodies, track and field is a patchwork of federations, meet organizers, and sponsors. As Lyles pointed out.
“It really comes down to whoever controls the meet gets to control the rules.”
Perhaps it’s this tension between tradition and spectacle that makes Noah Lyles such a compelling figure. He competes with flair, understanding that in today’s sporting landscape, moments matter just as much as medals. Yet, in a sport still hesitant to embrace theatrics, even a showman like Lyles must settle for water at the finish line.
And, as it turns out, Lyles isn’t particularly fond of drinking anyway.
Still, the conversation he’s sparked is timely. As athletics continues to search for ways to attract younger, global audiences, perhaps it’s time to loosen the rules, pop a bottle, and let athletes like Lyles fully own their moments of triumph.
