Noah Lyles, the 100m World Champion, caused a stir on the internet when he revealed one of Yu-Gi-Oh!’s most iconic cards right before a race.
At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Lyles participated in the 100m and 200m races. As the starting gun for the opening round of the 100m was about to go off, the camera focused on Lyles who revealed a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his running attire.
Noah Lyles pulled out a Blue-Eyes White Dragon Yu-Gi-Oh! card for his 100m Olympic trial intro pic.twitter.com/3ouE7Jmcjd
— dexerto (@dexerto) June 23, 2024
Although clearly meant as a playful act, Lyles’ decision to reveal the card has received a great deal of acclaim from certain corners of the TCG community. His use of the original Blue-Eyes card art, in particular, has convinced many that he is a devoted fan.
After NBC shared the now-viral clip, many people responded with their thoughts. One person commented, “The act of pulling out a Yu Gi Oh card has a certain aura that cannot be imitated. It is a natural ability that comes from within.”
Another individual expressed their opinion that moments like these can help make athletes more relatable to the public, stating, “I enjoy seeing athletes embrace their nerdy side. It’s entertaining to see them participate in ‘press events’ in MMA and other combat sports, occasionally dressed in Street Fighter cosplay. Showing a bit of playfulness never takes away from one’s character, as long as it is carried with confidence.”
One person couldn’t believe that they were allowed to bring a Yu-Gi-Oh card with them to a race, exclaiming, “Wow, you can have a Yu-Gi-Oh in your pocket while you race? That’s pretty crazy. Hahaha.”
Lyles has previously garnered attention for his behavior during competitions. In September 2023, he made a comment about the tendency to refer to US champions as World Champions in various sports, despite only competing against teams from North America.
“The most painful thing for me,”stated Lyles, “is having to watch the NBA Finals and seeing ‘world champion’ emblazoned on their heads. World champion of what? Just the United States?”
“Let me clarify, I do have a great appreciation for the US, but it is not the entire world. We are a diverse and global community, with countries from all over fighting and succeeding. This is evident in the representation of different nations in various competitions. However, in the NBA, there are no flags displayed.”
Despite Lyles easily winning the first round, it is still uncertain if Exodia will participate in the Olympic trials as his status remains unknown.
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