By William Mata
Freelance News Reporter
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Noah Lyles has said he felt more confused than jubilant after being named Men's Track Athlete of the Year because he didn't know the category existed.
The U.S. sprinter received the trophy at the World Athletics Awards 2023 on Monday after winning the men's 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 relay at the world championships in Budapest, Hungary.
But the 26-year-old thought he was one of five to have been put forward for an overall men's athlete of the year award as, since the awards inception in 1988, only one man and one woman has been honored every year.
Instead, Lyles said he found out at the gala in Monaco that there were separate categories for men's and women's track, field, and road running. This meant there were six winners in 2023 rather than the customary two.
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"It's not what I expected to feel like," Lyles said afterward. "That word 'track' threw me and a lot of other people off. Nobody was prepared for what happened tonight.
"Everybody was caught off guard, especially when we heard our names being called one after another. It was a little confusing as to what was actually happening."
He added that he has not fully digested what happened and his achievements.
World Athletics said in a statement that the different skills required for various disciplines made it incredibly difficult to pick just one overall winner, which was why the format was changed.
"On the one hand, I agree with the idea of the format," Lyles said. "I just wish we knew that this was what was going to happen...that there were different categories.
"It was very shocking. A big plot twist for sure."
Lyles was backed up on X, formerly Twitter, by U.S. sprinting great Michael Johnson, who said: "This is not what you want from one of your biggest stars while holding the award. The handling of this by World Athletics is pretty bad."
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Lyles was named men's Track Athlete of the Year and the female winner was Kenyan middle distance runner Faith Kipyegon.
U.S.-born Swede Armand "Mondo" Duplantis and Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela were named men's and women's Field Athletes of the Year. Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya and Ethiopian Tigist Assefa were named men's and women's Out of Field Athletes of the Year after both set marathon world records.
Under the previous format, last year's male and female winners were Duplantis and U.S. 400-meter hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Winners were decided by the combined votes of the World Athletics Council, the World Athletics Family and members of the public.
World Athletics said the change was made this year after feedback during the voting process from fans, board members and the athletes.
"The depth of talent and the outstanding performances in our sport this year more than justify the expansion of the World Athletics Awards to recognize the accomplishments by these six athletes across a range of disciplines," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said.
"Our World Athletes of the Year alone have achieved seven world records between them in 2023, as well as a host of world titles and major wins, so it is only fitting that they be recognized as the athletes of the year in their respective fields."
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