Noah Lyles fingernails, explained: Why USA sprinter paints his nails for Olympics runs

Bryan Murphy

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Noah Lyles fingernails, explained: Why USA sprinter paints his nails for Olympics runs image

If there is one thing that Noah Lyles never lacks, it's confidence. 

The American track star is overflowing with the belief that he is better than the rest of his competitors. So far in his career, he has proven just that, as the 27-year-old is a six-time world champion and owns one of the fastest times in history in the 200-meter dash.

Don't get the confidence Lyles has in himself confused with arrogance. Ahead of the Olympics, the Florida native explained to USA Weekly how it is one of the "most misunderstood" parts about him, and that he is just incredibly certain in his abilities. 

MORE: The story of Noah Lyles' diamond-laced chain necklace

"The most misunderstood thing is the balance between cocky and confident," Lyles said. "There is a strong line that people assume my confidence is cockiness. I will say this. Anybody who thought I was cocky and met me, they’re instantly like, 'Oh, that’s the nicest, coolest guy I’ve ever met in my life.'

"I never blame anybody who thinks that I'm cocky. It’s just a 'You haven’t met me situation.' That’s all."

It's not just a confidence in his running abilities, which are other-worldly. It's also a confidence in being himself. That includes sporting painted nails when he races. 

Lyles is among the latest wave of young athletes who have no problem expressing themselves through colored fingers. Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams and 76ers rookie Jared McCain are two of the most prominent figures to have painted fingernails during their respective competitions. 

Here is more on why Lyles paints his nails when competing. 

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Why does Noah Lyles paint his nails?

Lyles has sported a number of different color combinations and words on his nails when racing. That has included the word "ICON" during the Olympics Opening Ceremony, as well as red, white and blue when he took home gold in the 100-meter dash.

There are plenty of critics of Lyles' nails. It's the same responses that Williams and McCain have received, but it hasn't fazed any of the elite athletes. Lyles even called the backlash from certain individuals humorous to him. 

"I’m a person who knows that a lot of people have different opinions and they have them for different reasons," Lyles said about the criticism of his painted nails. "To be honest, I’m so confident in myself that it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s funny at times."

MORE: Explaining the Noah Lyles 'world champion' controversy 

Of course, for as many people who aren't about the painted fingernails trend, there are plenty who are supporting him. NBA Hall of Famer Dwayne Wade posted a message on X, formerly Twitter, after Lyles won the 100-meter dash in Paris, and Lyles' mother also painted her nails in support of her son. 

The track star isn't stopping anytime soon. He likely will have a colorful design on his nails when he goes for gold in the 200-meter dash on Thursday.

"Sometimes it’s like, 'Hey, I know you were brought up this way, but I was brought up that way,’ and the fact that you can’t see the differences of why I might do it, I find that entertaining," Lyles said. "You know, people like me because I do this.

"I’m just being myself."

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.