"We're not getting paid enough"- Noah Lyles makes feelings known about why training for track and field is 'stupid'

Noah Lyles has expressed his thoughts on why training for track and field is 'stupid.' The Paris Olympic gold medalist shed light on how track athletes are paid less compared to those competing in leagues like the NBA and the NFL. Moreover, he spoke about how track events are restricted only to a couple of months during the season unlike other sports creating an appeal all year round.

Track and field athletes being less as compared to other sports has been a point of discussion among athletes and fans for a long time. To address the issue, multiple private leagues like 'Athlos' by Alexis Ohanian and 'Grand Slam Track' by legendary athlete Michael Johnson are being organized with the vision of making the sport more fan-focused as well as attracting a global audience.

Noah Lyles and Grant Holloway spoke about the issue on the 'Beyond the Records' podcast along with Dude Perfect's Coby Cotton. The YouTuber asked both athletes why they felt training for track and field was 'stupid.' Both Lyles and Holloway had different outlooks on the topic.

"Training four years for one moment. You don't know if you're going to get that moment back, that's stupid as f**k. I hate it," Holloway said.

On the other hand, Noah Lyles said:

"The real reason it is stupid is because we're not getting paid enough. That's why were are not getting there."

Noah Lyles on creating an impact on track and field before he leaves

Noah Lyles after the 200m semi-finals at Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 12 - Source: Getty

Noah Lyles has been vocal about his goal of bringing more eyes to track & field and making the sport popular all year round. Last year, the American athlete expressed his desire to have NBA-like walk-ins before races wherein athletes can showcase their fashion which would eventually appeal to a lot more fans, along with some other entertaining events between two races.

Lyles believes bringing in more audience will eventually benefit the sport as well as the competing athletes by increasing their prize purse. He spoke about his goal of creating an impact in an interview with GQ in 2024 and said:

"I'm not here to try and brag how much I make. That's truly not my end goal. I truly want to make sure that when I leave the sport, there is more than just one athlete who's making the type of money that I'm making. Because I want it to grow."

Moreover, Lyles was optimistic about witnessing a change in the track circuit in the near future.