With $101.1 million accumulated over his career, the world number one became only the third player to reach this figure, behind Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Beyond the money, the milestone serves as a measure of consistency, dominance, and longevity at the top of the most demanding circuit in the world, where every tournament gathers the best players and every victory requires navigating a field packed with talent.

A financial milestone that reflects sporting dominance

Surpassing $100 million on the PGA Tour is not merely an accounting achievement. It is the result of years of sustained performance at the highest level, regular appearances in Sunday’s final groups, and a level of consistency that few can maintain. In this exclusive club, Scheffler shares space with Woods, who leads with $120.9 million, and McIlroy, who has amassed $107.9 million—two names that defined eras in modern golf.

The figure gains even more significance in context: Scheffler reached it at just 29 years old, in a circuit that today features broader, more physically and technically demanding competition. Every dollar earned reflects rounds under pressure, precise decision-making, and the ability to hold steady when the margin for error narrows to almost nothing.

Twenty victories and historic speed

The win in California also marked his twentieth victory on the PGA Tour, a threshold only forty players in history have crossed. Scheffler is the first to do so since McIlroy, achieving the feat in just 1,442 days since his first title at the Phoenix Open in 2022, the second-fastest mark ever, behind only the 1,351 days it took Tiger Woods.

He also became the third golfer to reach twenty wins before turning 30, a list previously occupied only by Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Added to this are his four majors—two Masters Tournaments, a PGA Championship, and an Open Championship—which, along with his new status, secure him a lifetime PGA Tour card and firmly place his name in conversations once reserved for legends.

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Winner of the Heisman Trophy this season, Mendoza turned that night into something more than just a championship game. His performance encapsulated the journey of a player who left high school as a two-star prospect, was rejected by his local university, and found at Indiana the space to grow into the leading figure of college football. His story resonates with his family’s identity, the culture of South Florida, and the new economic landscape shaping the NCAA.

Roots, identity, and a homecoming statement

Born in Boston and raised in Miami, Mendoza is the son of members of the Cuban diaspora and the grandson of migrants who left the island in 1959. From them, he says, he inherited a work ethic that shaped his development during his years at Christopher Columbus High School, a well-known breeding ground for elite athletes. That cultural heritage became a competitive drive and a narrative that accompanied every step of his athletic growth.

His recognition as a Heisman winner made him the first player of Cuban descent to receive an award that has been presented since 1934. Beyond the trophy, however, the final in Miami carried an intimate tone: playing in front of his crowd and against the university that once turned him away transformed the game into a quiet act of vindication, where past and present met on the same field.

Talent, market value, and a future already pointing to the NFL

Mendoza’s story also reflects the new economics of college sports. His arrival at Indiana in 2025, supported by a NIL deal close to two million dollars and the backing of donors such as Mark Cuban, marked a turning point for the program. One year later, his NIL valuation reached 2.6 million, with partnerships including Adidas, Epic Games, and Dr Pepper, placing him among the most valuable college athletes in the country.

FERNANDO. MENDOZA.

THE PLAY OF A LIFETIME ‼️ pic.twitter.com/g3o5nNNslr

— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026

The championship game became the stage where this combination of performance and market value was fully visible. Ticket prices averaged more than $4,000, with some reaching $30,000, while figures such as Tom Brady and Raiders owner Mark Davis closely followed every play. With the NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple projections placing him as a potential first overall pick, Mendoza’s college present appears to coexist with a professional future that is already beginning to take shape.

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Raised in Sendai, in Miyagi Prefecture, Chiba grew up in an environment where excellence is not an abstract aspiration, but a tangible memory. As she prepares for her Olympic debut, the young Japanese skater carries the pressure of representing a new generation, knowing that the women’s singles event is among the most open and demanding at the Games. There are no guarantees, only the conviction that giving up is not an option.

The shadow of greatness and constant inspiration

For any elite skater born in Sendai, comparisons are inevitable. Chiba accepts them with naturalness and respect, aware that sharing origins with an Olympic legend is not a burden, but a mirror in which to reflect. Every international competition, every podium contested outside Japan, reinforces her understanding of what it means to sustain excellence under pressure.

Far from idealizing perfection, Chiba speaks of determination as the trait that inspires her most. It is not only about winning, but about persisting—staying true to a way of competing even when body and mind are asking for relief. In her words emerges a quiet ambition: one day, to become a reference for others, someone who embodies an attitude of never giving up.

When pressure weighs more than the jumps

The 2024–25 season confirmed Chiba as one of the most consistent skaters on the circuit, almost always in the fight for the podium. However, the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya revealed an unexpected crack. After a brilliant short program that exceeded even her own expectations, the pressure of leading an elite final became overwhelming.

The free skate marked a turning point. Two falls, uncharacteristic mistakes and a sense of disconnection pulled her away from her best version. Chiba finished last in the free skate and fifth overall, far from her usual standards, and broke down in tears as she left the ice. Later, she would admit that she pushed herself too hard, that she failed to adapt to the intensity of the moment and to manage the weight of being a favourite.

Rebuilding to reach the Games

Two weeks later, at the Japan National Championships, the challenge was different but equally intense. Her previous Grand Prix victories placed her in a strong position, though another collapse could have complicated everything. As she took her position at centre ice in Tokyo, Chiba appeared more nervous than usual, aware that the Olympic dream depended on her ability to endure.

It was not a dazzling performance, but it was solid. With no clear errors, she claimed the bronze medal and secured her place on the Olympic team alongside established stars and emerging talents. Beyond the smile and light humour that define her, a fierce competitor emerged—one who clenches her teeth when she speaks about determination. For Chiba, reaching Milano Cortina is not an end point, but an opportunity to test herself without restraint, to give everything and discover just how far she can push her own limits.

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For nearly two decades, Riner has competed at the very top of one of the most physically punishing sports in the world. Eleven world titles and seven Olympic medals tell part of the story, but statistics alone fail to explain his longevity. Judo is a sport that consumes bodies quickly. Few survive its demands beyond a single Olympic cycle. Fewer still remain dominant. Riner did not just endure; he adapted.

At first glance, the explanation seems obvious. His size is extraordinary, his strength undeniable. At over two metres tall, he has often looked less like a competitor and more like an inevitability. Yet to reduce his success to physicality is to misunderstand him entirely. Over time, Riner learned that bodies fade long before ambition does. What kept him competitive was not brute force, but restraint, self-awareness and an uncommon willingness to step back.

Welcoming Teddy Riner

That clarity became increasingly important as his role evolved. In the later stages of his career, Riner was no longer just France’s most reliable winner. He became its emotional reference point. Nowhere was that clearer than in the Olympic team final in Paris. With gold on the line and the arena vibrating with expectation, fate handed him the deciding contest. From the outside, it looked like destiny. From inside, it felt like weight.

Riner has since admitted that his first instinct was hope that the responsibility would fall elsewhere. He was exhausted. He was aware of the stakes. He was human. What followed was not an act of invincibility but of acceptance. He stepped forward not because he felt fearless, but because leadership demanded it. That distinction matters. Courage, in this context, was not the absence of doubt, but the decision to act in spite of it.

His path was never uninterrupted. A serious injury before the Tokyo Olympics threatened to close the chapter earlier than planned. At the time, it felt catastrophic. In hindsight, it proved decisive. The enforced pause altered the rhythm of his career, slowing it down just enough to allow reflection. Had Tokyo unfolded differently, Riner has suggested, Paris might never have happened. The setback extended the story rather than ending it.

Teddy Riner final in the men + 100kg, Paris 2024

What ultimately sets Riner apart is not how he won, but how deliberately he resisted becoming consumed by winning. Even the question of legacy was approached with distance. He has spoken openly about not wanting his children to follow his path, not out of disinterest, but out of protection. He understood the weight of comparison and chose not to pass it on. In a sporting culture obsessed with inheritance and continuation, that decision feels quietly radical.

Teddy Riner’s career offers a different definition of greatness. It is not about domination alone, nor about perfection. It is about balance, patience and knowing when to push and when to step back. He did not chase immortality. He focused on sustainability.

In a world of sport increasingly shaped by speed, pressure and short-term success, Riner stands as a reminder that the rarest achievement is not reaching the top, but learning how to remain there without losing yourself in the process.

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Looking back and analysing 2025 is, in Jeremic’s words, the best way to understand why this transformation was inevitable. “2025 was a year of extraordinary growth and consolidation for AIDA. With record figures for athlete participation and unprecedented country representation at the World Championships in Japan and Cyprus, AIDA once again confirmed its position as the leading global organization for freediving and apnea”.

A global sport in full expansion

The figures support that message. Freediving, for years perceived as a niche discipline, is now a sport with worldwide reach. “In 2025 alone, more than 350 AIDA competitions were held in over 50 countries, involving more than 6,000 athletes across all continents”, Jeremic explains. For the federation, this expansion is not just a matter of volume. “This global growth was accompanied by exceptional performance levels, with athletes from very diverse regions achieving top international results under AIDA regulations”.

At the centre of all this growth lies a non-negotiable principle: safety. Jeremic insists on this repeatedly, not as a slogan, but as a structural pillar. “One of the key focuses throughout the year was athlete safety”, she underlines. “Through sponsored and organised safety training programmes in the main freediving centres around the world, AIDA ensured the highest safety standards, allowing athletes to perform at their best”. The outcome of this approach is tangible: “This resulted in 10 new official AIDA World Records in 2025 and the registration of national records in 127 countries, over 33 years of existence”.

Regulations, science and integrity

That long-term vision was also reflected in regulatory evolution. In January 2025, AIDA introduced updated competition rules and new criteria for World Record-status events. According to Jeremic, the logic was clear: “These changes reflect a proactive philosophy, anticipating the evolving needs of the sport rather than merely reacting to incidents”. Behind these decisions lies constant scientific work that is rarely visible. “This progress was made possible thanks to continuous investment in medical and scientific research led by the AIDA Medical Committee and its associated researchers”.

Sporting integrity is another key pillar. “The fight for clean sport and fair play was another priority”, states the AIDA president. Collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency went beyond formalities. “In cooperation with WADA, AIDA participated in studies analysing substances not officially banned, but with potential performance-enhancing effects in apnea”. At the same time, the sport’s visibility took a significant step forward. “Sustained investment in promotion and close cooperation with athletes significantly increased the sport’s visibility. In 2025, apnea achieved greater exposure across major media outlets and online sports platforms worldwide”.

An ambitious calendar for 2026

All of this provides the foundation for approaching 2026, a year that AIDA faces with “great ambition and a clear vision”. The calendar is already defined, with two major events marked in red. “The AIDA Pool World Championships will take place in Budapest, Hungary, in early June 2026, and the AIDA Depth World Championships will be held in Limassol, Cyprus, in late September 2026”, Jeremic reveals.

But the roadmap goes beyond those events. “Under the World Apnea brand, we will focus on developing continental-level competitions with World Record status”, she explains. The objective is to maintain a common standard. “These competitions will follow organisational and safety criteria equivalent to those of the World Championships, responding to the growing needs of regional freediving communities while maintaining global consistency”.

Athlete support and a new identity

Support for athletes remains a central axis. “AIDA will continue supporting athletes through prize funds and development grants”, Jeremic assures. And there is room for growth. “Together with our sponsors and partners, we want to continue increasing these resources and provide stronger support for athletes at all levels”.

All these elements converge in the concept that now defines the federation’s future: World Apnea. The change, Jeremic insists, does not represent a break with the past, but rather its natural evolution. “AIDA has been setting global standards for freediving and apnea since 1992. Founded as a non-profit organisation in Nice, France, AIDA was born from the vision of passionate freedivers who wanted to formalise and structure breath-hold diving as a sport”.

From AIDA to World Apnea

More than three decades later, that vision has grown exponentially. “Over the past 33 years, the work of several generations has shaped AIDA into what it is today: a global federation made up of 61 national member organisations, representing freediving and apnea worldwide”. The evolution towards World Apnea follows a path already taken by other sports. “Following the example of other international federations with similar scale and global presence, AIDA is evolving its public identity towards World Apnea. This step reflects the natural progression from sport development to full global representation”.

What truly matters, however, remains unchanged. “AIDA / World Apnea remains exclusively dedicated to freediving and apnea, maintaining its independence, expertise and long-standing commitment to athlete safety and sporting integrity”, she emphasises.

A responsible outlook and thanks to the community

When asked about more sensitive issues within the sport, including incidents that occurred outside the AIDA framework, Jeremic adopts a cautious tone. “Rather than focusing on specific incidents or organisations, I believe this matter has already been addressed through AIDA’s consistent emphasis on safety, athlete welfare and proactive governance. A global sports federation must always communicate with responsibility, balance and respect”.

She prefers to close with a message of collective recognition and an invitation to the future. “I would like to sincerely thank the entire freediving community –athletes, instructors, coaches, safety divers, doctors, scientists, photographers, videographers, journalists, media partners, sponsors, national representatives, volunteers, the AIDA team and all freediving fans– for their dedication and support throughout 2025”.

And the final message is clear. “I invite everyone to continue this journey with us in 2026, moving forward under the World Apnea vision and entering together the next chapter of freediving’s global development”.

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After a long recovery process, a phone call changed the course of his career. The then youth national coach for indoor handball, Claus Hansen, invited him to try beach handball. “When I had finally recovered, he called me and asked if I wanted to try my hand on the sand,” Møss recalls. That almost casual invitation opened a new sporting chapter that would go on to define his international career.

A career built on the sand… with one goal still missing

Over time, Møss found in the sand far more than just a different discipline. “Through the people and the experiences that the sport has given me, I discovered that beach handball has a very special community,” he says. “There is a unique unity across nations and an atmosphere that is almost impossible to explain and simply has to be experienced.” That sense of belonging proved decisive in consolidating his bond with the discipline. “The combination of community, experiences and the pursuit of big goals is where I find my passion and motivation,” summarises the Danish player, who made his debut with the national beach handball team in 2017.

Since then, the Denmark men’s beach handball team has become his main competitive stage. Møss has scored more than 1,000 points for the national side and won gold at the European Championship in 2021, along with a bronze in 2023 and silver medals at the World Championships in 2022 and 2024. At club level, he was named MVP of the Champions Cup in 2019 and won the competition in 2023 with Rødby Beach Boys.

Despite that record, one objective continues to shape his motivation. “When you get a taste of standing on top of the podium, you become even more motivated — especially when you are still missing a world championship gold,” he admits. “It is one of the major driving forces behind my continued beach handball career: the dream of getting that world championship gold medal around my neck,” adds Møss, who combines his sporting career with a professional role in the banking sector.

The national team, shared experiences and a new generation on the rise

Beyond titles, Møss highlights the importance of the collective journey. “Being part of the Danish national team is something very special. We are a group that has been through a lot together and share many experiences,” he explains. That shared history has built a strong identity both on and off the court, while also opening the door to a new generation. “There are young players knocking on the door, and at some point a generational change will be inevitable — the only question is when,” he notes.

One of his most memorable stories dates back to the 2019 European Championship. A last-minute eye test revealed that he had been competing with severely impaired vision. “The optician told me, half jokingly, that I was almost blind,” he recalls. The contact lenses arrived just before departure and, against all expectations, Denmark went on to win their first-ever European Championship gold. “That tournament completely changed our self-perception and showed us that we could actually be among the very best,” he says.

Beach handball as a space for international connection

Møss’ journey has also been shaped by relationships beyond Denmark. Long-standing cooperation between Rødby Beach and the Aarhus-based club HEI Beach Handball played a key role in his development, as did personal bonds formed with players from other countries. “I started learning Spanish as a hobby because I got tired of not understanding what opposing players were saying on the court,” he explains.

That interest developed into close relationships with Spanish player Hugo Madera and Portuguese player Rui Rodrigues, and even led to occasional appearances with the Portuguese club Tigres. For Møss, beach handball has become a space for cultural exchange and personal growth, where competition coexists with a strong sense of shared identity.

The case of Simon Møss is not an isolated one. In recent years, many players have found in beach handball a pathway for continuity or specialisation after demanding indoor careers. In Spain, profiles such as Luisa García Toro, Miriam Sempere, Inoa Lucio and Remei Prat illustrate different routes to the sand, from definitive transitions to gradual shifts. At international level, careers such as those of Jelena Erić and Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar have followed similar paths.

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In his remarks, Hasani points out that the history of sport offers clear examples of how competition has served as a channel for dialogue when politics has failed to do so. He refers to football matches played between East and West Germany during the Cold War, which, he explains, “did not resolve political differences, but opened spaces for recognition and coexistence when other avenues were closed”.

Sport as a space for dialogue beyond political conflict

The president of the EWF also refers to the European Judo Championships held in April 2016 in Kazan, Russia, where Kosovo won a gold medal. Despite the host country not recognising Kosovo’s independence, “the flag was raised and the anthem played in accordance with sporting protocol”, a gesture that, according to Hasani, showed that “sport remained sport, without altering geopolitical positions”.

Building on these examples, Hasani stresses that “athletes must be judged by their performance, not by their passports or political circumstances”, and clarifies that the principle of Sport Above Politics “is not neutrality in the face of injustice”, but rather “respect for fairness, dignity and the universal rules that unite humanity beyond conflict”.

Excluding athletes does not resolve conflicts

In his statement, the head of the European Weightlifting Federation also recalls the consequences of political interference in major sporting events, citing the boycotts of the Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. In both cases, he notes, “the real losers were the athletes”, who were deprived of unique opportunities to compete, win medals and secure prizes or pensions linked to their results. Hasani adds that the joint participation of athletes from both blocs at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games was only possible once the political context had improved, reinforcing his belief that “excluding athletes for conflicts beyond their control causes lasting harm without resolving the underlying issues”.

In this context, Hasani insists that “neutrality in sport does not imply support, recognition or validation of any political position”, but simply “respect for the integrity of competition and shared rules”. As he explains, sport “does not require political agreement to function, but clear rules, fairness and mutual respect”.

As a recent example of the consequences of disregarding this principle, the founder of the Sport Above Politics Movement refers to the decision taken in October 2025 by Indonesia, which cancelled visas for gymnasts from Israel who were due to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, preventing their participation. “Situations like this could be avoided if there were greater public understanding of sporting values”, he argues.

Sport Above Politics Movement in the current international context

Hasani maintains that “allowing athletes to compete is a sporting obligation, not a political statement”, and that participation in international competitions “does not amount to diplomatic recognition or institutional alignment”. In his view, a society that clearly distinguishes between sport and politics would be “less inclined to exert pressure for the exclusion of athletes”.

In an international landscape shaped by conflict, the president of the European Weightlifting Federation concludes that upholding the principle of Sport Above Politics “is not a sign of weakness”, but rather “a deliberate commitment to fairness, consistency and human dignity”, regardless of the number of wars taking place or the political responsibilities associated with them.

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Tizzano had devoted the final years of his life to strengthening the role of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, to which he was linked for twelve consecutive years. He joined its Executive Committee in 2013 and was elected President in 2021, a period defined by his commitment to the founding values of the Mediterranean Games: peace, cooperation, the sporting ideal and unity among the peoples who share the Mediterranean.

Leadership rooted in values

The institution highlighted his commitment, sense of responsibility and integrity, qualities that guided his daily work and helped reinforce the prestige of the ICMG within the international sporting landscape. His leadership not only consolidated the organisation’s structure, but also projected its future with a vision centred on understanding between cultures through sport.

Before his time as a sports administrator, Davide Tizzano built a top-level athletic career. He was a two-time Olympic champion in rowing, winning gold in the men’s quadruple sculls at Seoul 1988 and repeating the achievement in the men’s double sculls at Atlanta 1996, where he competed alongside Agostino Abbagnale. At national level, he was crowned Italian champion on 17 occasions between 1984 and 2005, a record that reflects both his longevity and consistency at the elite level.

Beyond rowing

His international record was further enhanced by world titles in two different disciplines: rowing, in 1986, and sailing, in 1993, a versatility rarely seen in high-performance sport. He also took part in the prestigious America’s Cup in the 1992 and 2007 editions, confirming a lifelong connection with sport beyond a single discipline.

The combination of sporting excellence and institutional vocation made Davide Tizzano a widely respected figure within and beyond the Mediterranean sphere. His legacy endures both in the medals that defined an era and in the impetus he gave to an organisation that seeks, through sport, to build bridges between countries and generations.

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The strength of this recognition lies in its selection method. The ranking is decided through a secret ballot by the L’Équipe editorial staff, in which specialist journalists assign points based on the overall impact of each athlete’s season. Titles, consistency, competitive context and the historical dimension of achievements are all taken into account, with a transversal approach that places very different disciplines on equal footing, without hierarchies based on popularity or commercial interests.

Within that framework, McIntosh and Pogacar came out on top after a vote closed on 25 November, capping a year in which both had been at the centre of the sport’s biggest stages. For both athletes, it also represented a long-pursued reward after coming close in previous editions.

A dominant year for Summer McIntosh

In the women’s category, the Canadian swimmer rose to the top after narrowly missing out on the award the previous year. At just 19, McIntosh closed 2025 as one of the most dominant figures in international sport, maintaining her level across every major competitive stage of the season.

A triple Olympic champion in Paris 2024 before even turning 18, the Canadian further expanded her résumé at the World Championships in Singapore. There, she claimed four world titles in the 400 m freestyle, 200 m butterfly, 200 m individual medley and 400 m individual medley, and narrowly missed a clean sweep after finishing third in the 800 m. A record that ultimately tipped the vote in her favour.

Behind her, athletics played a central role in the women’s standings. American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone finished second after winning two world titles and posting the second-fastest 400 metres time in history (47.78), while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed the podium after dominating the sprint events with three gold medals at the World Championships in Tokyo.

Women’s World Champions ranking

1. Summer McIntosh (Canada), swimming, 628 points

2. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (United States), athletics, 516 points

3. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (United States), athletics, 425 points

4. Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt (France), cycling, 375 points

5. Katie Ledecky (United States), swimming, 331 points

6. Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus), tennis, 293 points

7. Federica Brignone (Italy), skiing, 151 points

8. Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), football, 140 points

9. Beatrice Chebet (Kenya), athletics, 85 points

10. Angelina Melnikova (Russia), gymnastics, 72 points

Pogacar, a dominance that decided the vote

In the men’s category, this time the victory went to Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian produced one of the most complete seasons in modern cycling by winning his fourth Tour de France and adding three more Monuments to his palmarès: the Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Giro di Lombardia. A blend of Grand Tours, Classics and consistency that ultimately made the difference in the final vote.

Athletics also carried significant weight, with Armand Duplantis finishing second. The Swede raised his pole vault world record to 6.30 metres during the season, but once again fell just short of the top spot, as had happened the year before.

The podium was completed by Carlos Alcaraz, winner of Roland-Garros — after a high-intensity final against Jannik Sinner — and the US Open, who also ended the year as world number one.

Men’s World Champions ranking

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia), cycling, 821 points

2. Armand Duplantis (Sweden), athletics, 799 points

3. Carlos Alcaraz (Spain), tennis, 252 points

4. Ousmane Dembélé (France), football, 226 points

5. Jannik Sinner (Italy), tennis, 169 points

6. Léon Marchand (France), swimming, 146 points

7. Marc Márquez (Spain), motorcycle racing, 134 points

8. Marco Odermatt (Switzerland), skiing, 104 points

9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), basketball, 103 points

10. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), golf, 75 points

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In an era in which other sports have successfully turned matchups into memorable narratives, Lyles believes athletics has yet to fully tap into the power of storytelling. His perspective does not come from external criticism, but from an emotional bond with the discipline that shaped and crowned him. Speaking with Olympics.com, the sprinter breaks away from clichés and proposes rethinking how the sport’s great rivalries are built — and communicated — within the Olympic Games ecosystem.

Rivalries that require more than sharing the same track

For Lyles, the concept of rivalry has been used superficially in modern athletics. Competing multiple times against the same athlete is not enough to generate real tension or sustained anticipation. “There has to be a story. There has to be a purpose. There has to be an intention,” he stresses, underlining that without those elements, the confrontation is reduced to the stopwatch.

His analysis is supported by inevitable comparisons. Ali vs. Frazier transcended boxing; Messi vs. Ronaldo defined an era in football; LeBron vs. Steph reshaped the recent narrative of basketball. In each case, fans followed not only results, but careers, stylistic contrasts and clashes of personality — something Lyles feels athletics has only occasionally managed to offer.

The show as an emotional bridge to the fans

From that conviction, Lyles sees storytelling as a tool to raise the emotional stakes. When there are reasons to care, spectators engage, celebrate and suffer. That is why he recalls recent duels such as Usain Bolt versus Justin Gatlin, or the clashes between Shaunae Miller and Allyson Felix, as opportunities that could have gone far beyond pure competition.

That philosophy also explains the way he inhabits the track. Lyles does not walk to the start line: he bursts in, runs, shouts and rallies the crowd even before the gun goes off. It is not about intimidating rivals, but about delivering an experience. For him, athletics must be felt live, generate irreproducible energy and leave fans with the sense of having been part of something unique — an emotion he hopes to amplify one day in front of his home crowd at Los Angeles 2028.

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