'None of our achievements were good enough' - Noah Lyles fires back at World Athletics on AOTY changes

Photo Credit - Mattia Ozbot

'None of our achievements were good enough' - Noah Lyles fires back at World Athletics on AOTY changes

Funmilayo Fameso 20:20 - 14.12.2023

Triple world champion Noah Lyles bared it all, talking about his displeasure on the World Athletics Athlete of the Year Awards.

Days after being named the Male Athlete of the Year (Track), Noah Lyles has finally gathered his thoughts on what he thinks about the Athlete of the Year changes by World Athletics.

The athletics governing body changed the format of the Athlete of the Year Award for the first time since its inception by awarding six winners in different categories instead of just the best Male and Female Athlete in a season.

Noah Lyles was crowned the 2023 Male Track Athlete of the Year. Photo Credit - Mattia Ozbot @WorldAthletics

The winners of the 2023 awards aside Lyles are Kenya's Faith Kipyegon (Female Track Athlete of the Year), Sweden's Mondo Duplantis (Male Field Athlete of the Year), Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas (Female Field Athlete of the Year), Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum (Male Out of Stadia Athlete of the Year), and Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa (Female Out of Stadia Athlete of the Year).

While many see this as a welcome development, some athletics enthusiasts, veterans, athletes, and Lyles weren't happy as the nominated athletes didn't get prior notice before the award night.

Lyles, who aired his frustration in a post-award interview said he needed a few weeks to process it all.

Noah Lyles became the world fastest man after winning the 100m world title in Budapest

"I don't think I can digest what happened tonight, give me a few weeks, then I think I can break down what happened today," said the triple world champion in Budapest.

The world's fastest man will later post on his X page the same night:

"Idk what to say…There is so much I want to say and so much Ik I shouldn’t say. I need time to truly get my feelings together before I start speaking on what happened tonight."

Having collected his thoughts on the turn out of events, Lyles has now fired back at World Athletics in a post on his X page

"I believe I found the right words for what happened at the AOY awards. When they decided to split the award without telling any of us, including the fans that voted. It made me feel that none of our achievements were good enough to be AOY.

"I’m guessing that was not WA’s goal but that is how it made me feel. I do believe that there should be more awards included in the event, but not with the exclusion of the AOY award.

"I wish they would have waited until next year to change the format of the awards or not change it in the middle of the process. I also wish @WorldAthletics would have had a conversation with the athletes so we could come up with a more structured plan," tweeted Lyles.

The Athlete of the Year Award is the highest honour a track and field athlete can receive for iconic performances in a single season.

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