World Athletics Awards 2023 - Source: Getty — Noah Lyles (Image via Getty Images)

Noah Lyles ecstatic on meeting the man behind iconic Adidas Stan Smith spikes at the U.S. Open finals

Modified Sep 09, 2024 19:53 GMT

2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist, Noah Lyles recently shared a picture with two-time Grand Slam winner, Stan Smith. This follows the conclusion of the 2024 US Open Women's Singles finals at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Aryna Sabalenka clinched the title by defeating American tennis player Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

The reigning 100m Olympic champion, Lyles, was also present in the stands to witness the contest between the two promising young tennis players. It was at Arthur Ashe Stadium that the three-time Olympic medalist had the opportunity to meet the 1971 US Open winner, Stan Smith.

Following this meetup, Lyles took to his official Twitter handle to share a picture with the legendary tennis player. In his caption, Lyles referred to his collection of Stan Smith Adidas shoes, writing,

"Finally found the man on all my shoes. The great Stan Smith"

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Smith signed with Adidas in 1973 and has since become one of the company's most successful and influential athletes.

Like Smith, Lyles has also been a partner with Adidas since 2016, when he was associated with the Florida Gators. In 2024, the 27-year-old signed another lucrative deal with the German sporting brand that extends beyond the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

World Athletics President heaps praise on Noah Lyles for his contribution to the discipline

Lyles during the men's 100m finals of 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (Image via Getty Images)

World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe recently elaborated on the importance of Noah Lyles in the current context of the discipline of track and field.

Speaking after Lyles' 100m win at the Paris Olympics, Coe stated that the 27-year-old Florida native's influence on the sprinting discipline in recent years is comparable to that of the seven-time Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt

Here's what he said (via The Mountaineer):

"Lyles is hugely important. Look, I have to be relatively agnostic, but if I’m wearing a promoter’s hat, then him winning last night was important because he’s now creating a narrative that is heading us back into Usain Bolt territory. It’s a recognisable face, a face that have now got young people talking about."

Lyles's infectious energy and charismatic personality on the track have contributed significantly to his rise as one of the most marketable track and field athletes of his generation.