Faith Kipyegon agrees with Noah Lyles on critical reason athletes should not fear expressing themselves

, widely regarded as the greatest female middle-distance runner in history, has voiced her support for stance on athletes embracing self-expression to help elevate the profile of track and field. 

, fresh off a dominant victory in the , where she cruised to a win in the 1500 meters and pocketed a $60,000 prize, believes that allowing athletes to show more of their personalities is key to the sport’s growth.

The New York event was unique, designed to provide female athletes with a platform to express their individuality in a more intimate setting than the typical track and field meets. This atmosphere resonated with Kipyegon, who donned a tiara in celebration of her reign as the queen of the 1500 meters, showcasing a side of her personality rarely seen in competition.

Faith Kipyegon described her 2024 season as fantastic, with meeting Megan Thee Stallion in New York at Alexis Ohanian's Athlos event as one of her most memorable moments.

 She echoed Lyles’ sentiment that athletes should feel free to show who they are beyond the track.

Lyles, a charismatic sprinter, has made waves not just on the track but also off it, as seen during his appearance on The Tonight Show and his feature in the Netflix series Sprint.’

 He has been vocal about the need for track and field athletes to embrace their personalities to grow the sport’s fanbase. "I want to know, how are we going to shift the idea of track and field in the people’s mind to where this is entertainment," Lyles told GQ earlier this month.

Kenyan duo Faith Kipyegon and Mary Moraa secured victory and second place in the 1500m and 800m events respectively at the women-only track and field event at Athlos NYC 2024.

For Kipyegon, the New York meet allowed her to do just that. Despite her usually reserved demeanor, she embraced the opportunity to showcase a different side of herself, participating in pre-race activities such as make-up sessions and photoshoots—something she had never done before. Reflecting on the experience, Kipyegon expressed her enthusiasm for how the event allowed athletes to break from the norm.

“It is so unique. To have seen many athletes come out there with different things, different styles. It really motivates other athletes to know that, besides what you do, you have to enjoy life,” Kipyegon shared with

Her comments underscored her belief that track and field athletes, especially women and young girls, should embrace all aspects of the sport, from performance to personality. “We just enjoyed every moment because that was a unique event, and we did not know what was coming up, so we had to enjoy everything that came up.»

Kipyegon expressed hope that similar events will continue to emerge, providing athletes more opportunities to showcase their individuality and inspire the next generation. 

«We hope to see more races like these coming up to motivate young girls and women along the way, and athletes as well to know that every event comes with different things,» she added.

The highlight for Kipyegon came in how different the event felt from her usual experiences in elite competitions like the Diamond League or World Championships.

 «This was a very unique meet, especially with the make-up. I had never done make-up before any race, be it Diamond League or World Championships, but before the race, we had done make-up, shoots—like video shoots, photo shoots—and I was like, ‘Wow! Are we even going to race tomorrow?’ But it was totally different, and I enjoyed it.”

By embracing their personalities and showing the world that they are more than just competitors, athletes like Kipyegon and Lyles hope to elevate track and field into the mainstream and inspire future generations.