Baki creator gifts American sprinter Noah Lyles custom illustration following recent Tokyo race performance
In a unique and unexpected crossover, a special illustration has been revealed that was drawn by the legendary manga artist Keisuke Itagaki as a gift for the American track and field star Noah Lyles.
Keisuke Itagaki is famous for his signature, hyper-muscular and intensely detailed art style that is prominently featured in his seminal work, Baki the Grappler.
Noah Lyles, a world champion and Olympic medalist, is also known for being a huge fan of Japanese anime.
During the recent World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, he famously performed a “Kamehameha” pose, a reference to the classic series Dragon Ball, during a ceremony.
To celebrate Lyles’s recent bronze medal win at the Tokyo event, the full artwork that was presented to him as a gift was officially revealed to the public.
The new, original illustration depicts the American athlete in Itagaki’s signature, powerful and exaggerated style.
The artwork was posted with a message of congratulations for the medal win, and also as a message of support for Lyles’s then-upcoming 200-meter race.
This unique partnership is a special tribute from a legendary Japanese artist to a world-class athlete who is also a passionate fan of Japanese pop culture.
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