Team USA’s Noah Lyles responds to criticism over painted nails

Noah Lyles is aware that he’s not everyone’s cup of tea — and he’s completely okay with it.

The Team USA track and field athlete, who chatted with Us Weekly, playfully addressed the criticism he received for arriving at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony with "ICON" painted on his nails.

“I’m a person who knows that a lot of people have different opinions and they have them for different reasons,” Lyles, 27, said.

 “To be honest, I’m so confident in myself that it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s funny at times.”

As soon as Lyles appeared on the Seine in his Team USA attire with painted nails, social media comments started flooding in.

One user posted on X, “I genuinely don’t have a problem with Noah Lyles. I like the energy he brings to the sport. But that painting of the nails s–t [is]for the ladies bruh.” 

Another shared, “Noah Lyles has his nails painted …This is just at the halfway point of the opening ceremony. Disturbing thus far.”

Lyles has painted his nails before, showcasing a different design at the Olympic Trials in June and the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in February.

“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 shared. 

“You know, people like me because I do this. I’m just being myself.”