Noah Lyles broke into the mainstream this past year and he got everything that comes with that— the good and the bad. He also got the two things he wanted the most — an Olympic gold medal in the most glorious track-and-field event, the men’s 100-meter race and all eyes on his chosen sport. He kept people talking and he did his job by capturing two medals at the Olympics.
- Jaleel Grandberry
FanSided Editor
Best fan moment of the year
The moment of the year was Lyles winning the Olympic crown in the 100-meter race. In one of the greatest, closest races ever, Lyles eked out the victory and etched his legacy in stone. He did a lot of talking, which drew a lot of eyes to the race. And with everyone watching, he delivered.
How this fandom is changing sports
Noah Lyles is an incredibly polarizing individual, but those are the kind of people who move things forward. He’s currently playing a big role in moving track-and-field forward. Whether it’s him being called out after an American sports league team wins a title, racing popular streamers, or talking trash with other athletes who think they have Olympic-level track speed — Lyles is helping track-and-field stay in the spotlight year-round.