In a surprising revelation that shows the human side of elite athletes, world champion sprinter Noah Lyles has opened up about how his unusual hobby has brought him unexpected benefits during his global travels. The American track star, recognized as one of the fastest men on the planet, has found that his passion for Japanese anime and collectible card games sometimes works better than his athletic fame when it comes to special treatment.
Anime Cards Trump Athletic Fame
During a candid interview with Women's Wear Daily, the 28-year-old Olympic champion shared amusing anecdotes about how displaying his anime card collection before races has occasionally resulted in hotel upgrades. Lyles humorously noted that this preferential treatment came not from his status as a world-class athlete but from shared enthusiasm for anime culture with hotel staff and fans.
"I've gotten hotel upgrades because of that," Lyles revealed, specifically mentioning the impact of showing his prized "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" card, one of the most mythical cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe. He emphasized, "That's for pulling out the 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' and not because I'm a living champion."
Japanese Culture Connection
This isn't the first time Lyles has demonstrated his affection for Japanese culture. Fans might remember his iconic "Goku's kamehameha" celebration from the Dragon Ball Z series, which he performed after winning the gold medal in the men's 200m at the World Championships. The sprinter has consistently shown that his interests extend far beyond the track, bringing creativity and personality to his performances.
The eight-time world champion also hinted at several creative projects in development, though he kept specific details under wraps. "A lot of my ideas are very out of the box," Lyles explained. "And I just have to make sure that I can actually make them come true first before I start talking about them."
Dominating the Track Despite Unconventional Interests
While his anime passion might seem unconventional for an elite athlete, Lyles continues to demonstrate exceptional performance on the track. The American star kicked off the 2025 season impressively by winning the 60m race at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with a time of 6.52 seconds.
His winning streak continued with a stellar victory in the men's 200m final at the Diamond League in Zurich, where he clocked a blazing 19.74 seconds. At the World Championships in Tokyo, Lyles earned bronze in the 100m but quickly bounced back to claim gold in both the men's 200m and 4x100m relay events.
Looking ahead, the reigning champion has set his sights on an ambitious golden triple at the Los Angeles Olympics 2028, proving that unusual hobbies and elite athletic performance can indeed coexist successfully at the highest level of sports.
