'I want to be the man she fell in love with' - Noah Lyles reveals romantic reason behind going blonde for Tokyo World Championships

Against viral speculations of playing mind games as the rationale behind dyeing his hair blonde for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, Noah Lyles has revealed the romantic reason responsible for the decision.

Days before the start of the world championships in Tokyo, the reigning Olympic 100m champion was spotted in training rocking a new golden-tinted hairstyle, different from his usual braids.

Lyles' new look led fans to conclude he was playing mind games with his rivals by recreating his record-breaking style when he won the 200m world title, setting the American record of 19.31s at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon.

He has now revealed that it wasn't the case and he only did it to please his Jamaican fiancée Junelle Bromfield.

"A lot of people swore that I was playing mind games, but this is not the mind games. I promise you, you'll know when I'm playing mind games, it would be a long stronger like a flash," said Lyles in an interview with @LillzTIL.

He further added: "The reason I dyed my hair was two reasons. One is Junelle said she fell in love with me with short hair. So I'm planning to cut the hair, and I said I'll never dye my hair again unless I was planning to cut it soon after.

"So I'm planning to cut my hair for the wedding. So the blond is my aurovoir to the long hair for now. I want to be the man that she fell in love with for the wedding, so I feel it's a small sacrifice."

Lyles was one of the star performers at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, going home with 100m bronze medal, defending his 200m title for the fourth consecutive time, and anchoring Team USA's 4x100m relay squad to another successful world title defense.

The lovebirds are known as one of the biggest power couples in track and field and got engaged in October 2024. They are planning a 'melanin-themed' wedding for spring 2026.