"Even Michael Johnson didn’t have his own sneaker" - Noah Lyles on what he wants after winning 100m gold at Paris Olympics 2024

United States sprinter Noah Lyles entered the 2024 Paris Olympics with an air of confidence, which many sometimes thought bordered on arrogance. When it mattered, though, he showed that his confidence was not misplaced.

On Sunday, August 4, at Stade de France, Lyles clinched the gold medal in the men's 100 meters with a 9.784-second dash. His margin of victory was minuscule, as he finished just 0.005 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson.

At a press conference after the sprint, the American, who has now won arguably the biggest title in the sport, shared one of his next goals.

“I want my own shoe. I want my own trainer. Dead serious. I want a sneaker, ain’t no money in spikes. There’s money in sneakers. And even [four-time Olympic gold medallist] Michael Johnson didn’t have his own sneaker. I feel like for how many medals we bring back, the notoriety we get, the fact that it hasn’t happened is crazy to me. That needs to happen,” he said.

Even before his blistering run in Paris, Lyles has been one of the best-paid athletes in his sport. Earlier this year, he signed a lucrative contract extension with Adidas. It has been widely reported that it is one of the most lucrative in track and field since Usain Bolt’s deal with Puma.

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Noah Lyles' Tokyo bronze fueled hunt for Olympic glory in Paris

Noah Lyles with the 200m bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - Getty Images

Noah Lyles made headlines when he became the world champion in the men's 200m at the World Athletics Championships in 2019. Big things were expected from him at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his plans big time and when he finally competed at the postponed Summer Games in 2021, he could only win the 200m bronze medal.

After winning the men's 100m gold in Paris, he shared how his Tokyo bronze medal worked as motivation:

"I was fueled as soon as I saw this [Tokyo bronze] in my hands. That's when I was fueled," he told reporters.

Lyles is the first American to win the men's 100m at the Olympics since Justin Gatlin did it 20 years ago. If he manages to replicate his performance in the 200m as well, he will become the first sprinter since Usain Bolt to win the 100m and 200m at the same edition of the Olympics.