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Noah Lyles Breaks Silence on Track and Field Absence
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š Hey, Speedsters!
Catch your breath, because this week is bound to be a dramatic one for track and field. As you already know from our last newsletter, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is cleared for her final curtain call for the season on September 14. But wait! Did Tara Davis-Woodhall's affectionate wish for husband Hunter leave you swooning over the two last time? We get it. So, in todayās Monday edition, we're back with developments that will tickle your track fancy.
Today, we answer the burning question- why has Noah Lyles cocooned himself from track endeavors after Paris? Also, while the Diamond League banner came under fire for a few inadequacies, the fumes barely reached Paris, where Hunter Woodhall was relishing his gold-winning moment. Spoiler alert: he flashed a special 7-word tribute for a family member! Also, while track enthusiasts continue to add coal to the Sydney-Femke Bol rivalry fire, we're watching every update like a hawk.
So letās dive in!
š QUOTE OF THE DAY
āThe only real limitation is the one you set for yourselfā
ā Ashton Eaton
In todayās newsletter, weāll uncover these top stories from the Track & Field universe:
š Reason Behind Noah Lylesā Absence on the Tracks
š„ Diamond League Drama on Fire
š“š» The Man Behind the Making of āHunter Woodhallā
š Sydney vs. Femke: Who Takes the Crown?
Noah Lyles Breaks Silence on Track and Field Absence
What is next for Noah Lyles? If you are a track fan, this is something you have wanted to know ever since Lyles retreated from the Paris Olympics midway, forced by the COVID virus. His past three 100m sprints had all been personal bests, a 9.83 at the Olympic Trials, 9.81 at the London Athletics Meet, and a 9.79 at Stade de France. But, is that all for the Olympic champion this season?
Well, Noah Lyles may have retreated from the track for now, absent from Lausanne, Silesia, Rome, and Zurich, but he has hardly gone off the social grid. Spotted shooting for Netflix in the meantime, he also touched down at the US Open, for the explosive finale between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula. And it's safe to say, wherever he goes, the cameras follow. Thus, whilst Lyles was at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, he spoke to an interviewer, revealing the cause behind his absence from the tracks.
The 27-year-old phenom revealed, "No no no. I ended my season; you know, we just decided that, uh, after the COVID situation, we were just going to call it there, and I didn't want to keep pushing, plus I wouldn't have time to come out here and enjoy the gold medal tour as I call it." Lyles has big endeavors on the cards, and one of them also includes attending the ultimate fashion shebang at the New York Fashion Week. As much as a recreation time, this also seems a break that will cancel out Lyles scare of bronchitis and allow him to return fit as a fiddle soon.
š POLL OF THE DAY
Which Do You Think is the Best Track and Field Rivalry? |
Last Pollās Result: Yes! Time to reveal the results of the last poll and it looks like 57.17% of you are ready to see Mondo Duplantis dash down the track in the 100m more often! Speed and style, right? Meanwhile, the rest of you are keeping it classic, cheering for him to stick to his sky-high pole vaulting skills. Seems like weāve got a split between speedsters and sky-lovers!
Diamond League āBroadcast' Controversy
After Paris, the Diamond League circuit ensured that the athletic momentum did not fizzle out. But, oh boy, it has been one controversial ride. Remember when Carl Lewis dropped a bombshell saying, āIām not a fan of the Diamond League," claiming it to be solely āabout collusion and lowering athletesā control and pay?ā Also, when Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's wildcard entry to the meet final in Brussels brought the league's reputation under the scanner? If only these weren't enough, additional issues have now surfaced.
As the 2025 Diamond League heads towards a broadcasting shift, from NBC/Peacock to FloTrack (except for the Prefontaine Classic), fans claim it to be an 'unbelievably poor decision' for multiple reasons. Firstly, higher subscription rates, $29.99/month or $149.99/year for FloTrack in contrast to $5.99/month or $59.99/year for the former. Secondly, the fear of FloTrack's limited exposure negatively affecting the reach of the event looms.
Wait, there's more. While Diamond League continued to dodge these bullets, a cannon ball was fired by the para-athletes. Hunter Woodhall, the 400m T62gold winner from Paris, added a post by Jonnie Peacock on Threads. It featured the Brit para-athlete voicing, āIf Iām honest, I just want to say, why are the Diamond Leagues not letting us run?ā Putting his spin on it, Hunter added, "Couldnāt agree more.ā Well, how long for the Diamond League to show more inclusivity, and who shall make this call?
Mondo Duplantis vs Karsten Warholm 100m Showdown!
Missed the action? Catch up on the electrifying duel between Mondo Duplantis and Karsten Warholm! This video brings you the full, heart-racing highlights of their 100m clash. Watch as Warholmās speed meets Duplantisā agility in a race that defied expectations and pushed the limits. Who crossed the finish line first? Watch till the end to find out!
Hunter Woodhallās Golden Tribute to Uncle
Third time's a charm, they say! Certainly so for Hunter Woodhall, whose wait from Rio got carried through Tokyo, until it reached its final frontier in Paris, where he recently clinched a gold. A blazing 46.36 seconds on the track post the gun went off, uniting Hunter with his first Paralympic title, in the T62 400m race. But what was it that tugged at his heartstrings so hard that tears streamed down his eyes?
Post his win, Woodhall flashed the back of his bib, which read, "WYATT WOODHALL, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU" Sitting down with Team USA, the double amputee revealed how growing up as a kid with disability, it was tough to find people who genuinely believed in his abilities. But, his uncle, Wyatt, who succumbed to cancer in 2021, was 'that person' for him.
But the emotional breeze hadn't passed. Woodhall unveiled how Wyatt played a huge rule for his father too. "We are not Woodhalls originally- my dad was adopted by the Woodhall family, by Wyatt. He brought us in, and we've always thought of the Woodhalls as a family of people who may not have had a place to fit in. But it means something to be a Woodhall, and that man created a legacy in our family that will last forever." As his voice trembled and his eyes welled up, it was clear how concrete the impact made by Wyatt in his life was.
Battle for 100m Hurdles Supremacy!
Sydney McLaughlin Levrone or the Dutch speedster, Femke Bol? Have you weighed in on your answer for 'who's the supreme 400m hurdlerā yet? Or do you think that there weren't enough opportunities for you to make this call? Indeed, this may be plausible as the two have gone against each other only thrice in a 400m hurdles event. But haven't the results posed a clean one-side sweep? Thus, a few track fans are already putting two and two together.
A track fan opened the floor for discussion by penning, āLeading up to the womenās 400m hurdles final at Paris 2024, the commentators had me worried that Sydney would lose the race to Femke. But my girl Syd blew everyone away and won gold, breaking the world record in the process. I think it could be closer between these two amazing athletes going forward. They will be around for the 2025 and 2027 World Championships, as well as the 2028 Olympics. I just wish we could see them compete in-between, like at the Diamond League meets.ā
This seemed to have riled the American supporters, who struck out every possibility of Bol closing in on Sydney's times. Undoubtedly, Bol's speed outpaces most competitors, just not Levrone. The closest she has come to Sydney's sixth world record at 50.37 is with her 50.95 seconds mark. So, do we let both take an award each? Declaring one as a generational runner and the other, as a historic one? Not so soon, as track fans wish to spice things up, as they further point at the lack of hatred or 'drama' in this rivalry.
š STORIES YOU SHOULDNāT MISS!
Noah Lyles Stands Behind Tyreek Hill After NFL Star Is Arrested Before Crucial Game - Full Story
Fred Kerley Lays Down Massive Challenge Amidst Unexpected Request From Letsile Tebogo - Full Story
Mondo Duplantis Receives Huge Challenge From Another Track & Field Star - Full Story
10-Year-Old Mondo Duplantisā Record-Setting Video Goes Viral - Full Story
Thatās it for today, folks! Weāll look to knock on your inbox on Wednesday with more interesting stories!
š FEEDBACK
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