'We are an amateur sport' Noah Lyles on why he must compete at 2028 Olympics

Triple world champion and reigning Olympic 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles has revealed why he has no choice but to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Lyles explained that his sponsors, including Adidas, dictate key career decisions, and failing to participate in the Olympics could jeopardize his financial stability.

He went on to point out that as things stand, he cannot afford to miss the Olympics because the sport is structured in a way that makes the Games the pinnacle of an athlete’s career. Missing the event, he said, would put his contracts and livelihood at risk.

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“We’ll see. I would like to be in a position where I get to make that choice. Right now, I don’t get that choice; it’s a lot deeper than that. I have to go because that’s what our sport is built on,” Lyles revealed at The Toure Show.

Besides that, Lyles emphasized the financial implications of missing out on the Olympics, noting that without sources of income, he would not be able to afford to pay his bills.

Unfortunately for Lyles, athletics is still not up there with top sports, hence, he does not get to make the majority of his career decisions.

“Anyone who sponsors us is going to have the idea that we shall go to the Olympics, and the Olympics crowns the fastest man and woman. If I don’t go, I’m losing my contract, I’m losing my way of life.

I won’t be able to pay my bills or, you know, go on through life easily. It will be a lot more challenging because, unfortunately, we are an amateur sport, not a professional sport,” he disclosed.

He has, however, taken radical measures to advocate for change in the sport. The sprint maestro is calling for a system where athletes are not solely dependent on events like the Olympics for their financial security.

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He believes athletes should have the liberty to make their own choices and generate income beyond track and field competitions.

“If I can change the sport before the LA 2028 Olympic Games, then I will have achieved my goal. I will have transcended the sport.

I would have made athletes make a living out of events and allowed people to choose if they wanted to go or not. We are amateurs; we get paid, but we have contractors,” he offered.

Lyles is one of the greatest sprinters of his generation. With earnings of $7 million, he ranks among the highest-paid athletes in the world, thanks to his lucrative endorsements with Adidas, Red Bull, and Omega.

At the start of 2024, he signed a massive extension deal with Adidas, reportedly the richest in track and field since Usain Bolt’s historic contract with Puma.

Beyond his on-track success, Lyles boasts a huge social media following, which has significantly boosted his marketability, making him one of the most bankable athletes in the sport.