Two weeks after the Paris Olympics wrapped up at Stade de France, the Paris Paralympics are in full swing, and the excitement is electric. While Noah Lyles might not have snagged his sprint quadruple on the Olympic stage, he sure made waves with his bold moves, capturing the world’s attention. Now, on the purple track of the Paralympics, the spotlight has shifted to Johannes Nambala and Samba Coulibaly—athletes who’ve been affectionately dubbed the Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek of the Paralympics. Wondering how these comparisons came about?

These two have been lighting up the track, embodying the same electrifying spirit and speed that made Lyles and Bednarek household names. At the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles, the American sprint sensation, solidified his claim as the “fastest man in the world” with the 100m gold and also took home the 200m bronze medals. Meanwhile, Kenny Bednarek, secured silver in the 200 meters, further building his legacy.

What sets these two apart is their contrasting personalities. Lyles is a firecracker—bold, fiery, and always hyping up the crowd—while Bednarek, aka “Kung Fu Kenny,” brings a calm, grounded demeanor to the track. Fast forward to the Paralympics, and on Sunday, September 1, Track and Spice shared a post on X that perfectly captured the entrance of Johannes Nambala and Samba Coulibaly.

The post playfully compared Samba Coulibaly’s grand entrance to that of Noah Lyles—jumping around, flashing his bib, and urging the crowd to cheer louder. On the other hand, Johannes Nambala walked in with the serene calmness of Kenny Bednarek, hands folded in gratitude, bowing before the crowd, and making his way to the starting line.

At the Paris Paralympics, Samba Coulibaly sprinted to a 7th-place finish in the men’s 100m-T13 with a time of 10.97 seconds, just edging out Johannes Nambala, who finished 8th with a season’s best of 11.09 seconds. But while their finals didn’t end with a medal finish, this mirroring moment of Johannes Nambala and Samba Coulibaly to Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek won the hearts of fans.

Fans weigh in: Paralympians vs. Olympians

BBC Africa’s sports reporter Lynne Wachira summed it up perfectly: “The accuracy is crazy, super insane.” The electrifying presence of Johannes Nambala and Samba Coulibaly on the Paralympic track is sparking memories of Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, captivating the crowd with dynamic energy that mirrors the Olympic duo.

Johannes Nambala, a standout Paralympian from Namibia, made history in 2013 by winning gold in the 400m at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, becoming the first Namibian to do so. He also earned two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Samba Coulibaly, a Malian sprinting sensation, has captured hearts across Africa with his exceptional talent, claiming the African T13 champion title in Marrakech and four gold medals at an international meet in Morocco.

So Samba Coulibaly’s entrance, which echoed Noah Lyles’s signature flair, had fans buzzing. One playful GIF posted by a user read, “Hollup… Let him cook,” a cheeky nod to Coulibaly’s dramatic entrance. The GIF captured the thrill of the moment, celebrating Coulibaly’s showmanship with humor and anticipation for his future in the sport to reach new heights.

Amidst the swirling drama surrounding Noah Lyles—be it rumors about his health or debates over his “fastest man in the world” title—one user wittily remarked that the comparison seemed more palatable without Lyles in the mix. They posted, “I’m here for it. It just seems less obnoxious because it’s not Noah lol,” adding a humorous touch to the conversation and hinting that the buzz around the Paralympians might feel lighter without Lyles’s controversies.

Yet, not everyone was on board with dismissing Lyles’s influence. Another user reflected on Coulibaly’s mimicry of Lyles’s crowd-hyping entrance, commenting, “He was like, he did it and it got him a gold medal, lemme do this rq.” The message? While Lyles’s signature style came after securing his gold, Coulibaly brought that energy before the race. The difference? While Coulibaly’s imitation was entertaining, it’s the gold medals that truly set Lyles apart.

As the buzz continues to grow, with comments like “I ain’t gonna lie, that was fun to watch” echoing through the crowd, the debate is heating up. So, what’s your take? Do you think Johannes Nambala and Samba Coulibaly are the Paralympic counterparts to Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, bringing their own unique flair to the track? Share in the comments below!