From Noah Lyles’ Kamehameha-inspired celebration to Kishane Thompson’s “Goku bounce,” track and field is now a stage where pop culture reigns, too. Anime has clearly dominated this new generation of stars, and with Lyles landing a massive anime partnership that Thompson and other anime fan-athletes might have dreamed of, a fusion of sports and anime. So, what’s cooking on the sidelines?

Crunchyroll has officially teamed up with Noah Lyles to launch his merch in full anime style, a perfect match, given that the 200m world champion is a massive anime fan himself. When approached with the offer, the six-time 200m world champ had just one response: “Hell yes.”

Cat Bowen, of Runner’s World, wrote about her excitement about the two worlds colliding. “I’m a nerd. I’m a runner. And hones

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