Noah Lyles, the American sprinter, has stirred controversy with his comments about being a 'world champion' and has now faced criticism from NFL player Tyreek Hill following his victory in the men's 100m sprint final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Lyles' victory over Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second was met with mixed reactions. The sprinter had previously expressed his disdain for American sports figures, particularly in the NBA, who refer to themselves as 'world champions' after winning national league titles.
During a press conference at the 2023 World Championships, Lyles questioned the validity of such titles, stating, 'World champion of what? The United States? We are the world.'
These comments did not sit well with some NFL players, including Tyreek Hill, who accused Lyles of fabricating illness during the men's 200m event where he won bronze. Hill also challenged Lyles to a race, claiming he could defeat him and emphasizing his seriousness by mentioning wearing a Covid mask post-victory.
Hill's remarks were made during an interview where he expressed his disagreement with Lyles' views on world championships and urged him to stick to discussing track events.
The ongoing exchange between Lyles and Hill has added a layer of intrigue to the sports world, with fans eagerly anticipating any potential showdown between the two athletes in the future.
