It’s no secret that Noah Lyles wants his own shoe. Not only did the sprinter voice that sentiment after winning the men’s 100-meter title and becoming the fastest man in the world last week at the Paris Olympics, but prior comments on wanting an Adidas signature shoe have also resurfaced.
Back in June, Time magazine published a cover story on Lyles highlighting his lead-up to the Paris Summer Olympics. The story mentions him being invited to a release event for Anthony Edwards’ AE 1 signature sneaker, which he did not attend. It came in the midst of contract extension negotiations with Adidas, with Lyles appearing to question why he wasn’t getting a shoe of his own.
In the Time story, Lyles is quoted as saying: “You want to invite me to [an event for] a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals? In a sport that you don’t even care about? And you’re giving him a shoe? No disrespect: the man is an amazing athlete. He is having a heck of a year. I love that they saw the insight to give him a shoe, because they saw that he was going to be big. All I’m asking is, ‘How could you not see that for me?'”
Time confirmed in the story that it had reached out to Adidas for comment, but the brand did not have a response.
Lyles took to X today to confirm he did not attend the aforementioned AE 1 release event due to scheduling conflicts.
“There is a rumor going around that I did not go to @theantedwards_ shoe release because he didn’t deserve it,” Lyles wrote on X. “That is not the case he definitely deserves his shoes he is an amazing player. The problem was finding time based on my prior engagements. Congratulations on Becoming an Olympic champion!”
There is a rumor going around that I did not go to @theantedwards_ shoe release because he didn’t deserve it. That is not the case he definitely deserves his shoes he is an amazing player. The problem was finding time based on my prior engagements.
Congratulations on Becoming an…— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) August 12, 2024
Around this time last year, Lyles ruffled a few feathers when he questioned if winning the NBA Finals makes someone a “world champion,” given that most teams in the NBA play in the United States. This past weekend, Edwards and the USAB team secured the gold medal at the Paris Olympics by beating France 98-87.
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