“Everybody wants to race the fastest man. I didn’t take up this title because it was easy,” said Noah Lyles to ESPN. The athlete is one of the most contentious runners in the world. While no one can deny that he’s one of the best track stars of this generation, many want to see him lose because of his penchant for proving his massive confidence right in every competition.

But much to the dismay of his critics, Noah snagged gold in the 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics, beating Kishane Thompson by just five-thousandths of a second. While this shut up some doubters, it also raised the stakes—everyone’s gunning to take him down now. From his Twitter jabs with Tyreek Hill to his heated rivalry with USA teammate Fred Kerley, Lyles always finds himself in the middle of the action. And now, there’s another name added to the list.

After an injury-riddled performance that left him sixth in the 100m semis at Paris, Zharnel Hughes is eager for redemption, with Noah Lyles firmly in his crosshairs. The upcoming Michael Johnson-led Grand Slam track event gives Hughes the perfect shot to make a statement.

Talking to Sky Sports, the athlete said, “It could be something that we might pick up. I find it very interesting to have something like that new to the sport of track and field. I feel it gets a bit of head turns here and there.”But Hughes made it clear—it’s nothing personal against Noah. For now, at least.

Zharnel Hughes made it clear he’s got no personal beef with the Olympic gold medalist, but the 2023 World Championship bronze medalist in the 100m isn’t exactly a fan of how Noah Lyles carries himself on the track. He said, “I don’t like his ways in regards to how he gets on the track. But I guess that’s the way he gives himself confidence and stuff. But overall, I don’t have any issue with Noah Lyles. I don’t have anything against him.” Still, Hughes admits that both he and Noah are fierce competitors who’ll bring their A-game to any race—especially if it means taking each other down.

With the Grand Slam Track set to start next year, it gives Hughes the opportunity to defeat Noah Lyles in tournaments other than the Diamond League and the World Championships. He’s intrigued by the idea of the new series, saying it  “brings a little more light to the sport”. However, neither have signed on for the league just yet. While it is unclear whether or not the UK’s fastest man has been approached to do so, Noah has given a clear reason why he’s not ready to sign up just yet.

Why hasn’t Noah Lyles signed for Grand Slam Track just yet?

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Michael Johnson revealed that Noah Lyles is part of his dream lineup at the Grand Slam Track. He wants to sign the fastest athletes for the league, and Noah definitely fits that bill. However, the Olympic gold medalist himself is not fully on board with the plan just yet.

Noah Lyles told Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco on the “Nightcap” podcast that he’s holding out for a broadcast partner. While he says that his agent is already in conversations with Michael Johnson to get more information about the league, he’s in no rush to make his verdict. He said, “The thing that’s stopping me at the heart of it is I have yet to hear of a TV provider.” The 2023 “3Peat” star pointed out that while events like the Diamond League and World Championships showcase amazing performances and rivalries, they often fail to attract viewership due to a lack of accessible broadcasting.

Noah is not about to let that happen with GST and didn’t mince his words when he brought to light how the Diamond League’s switch from NBC to FloTrack has made it harder for new fans to engage. “We’re producing these great times, great shows, these great rivalries and we have nobody seeing it. Now we’re in the same problem we’re in with the Diamond Leagues and World Championships,” he added.

Grand Slam Track aims to contract 48 athletes, with Lyles potentially filling the role of a racer in the 100m/200m category. With prize money of $100,000 for first place, it’s a major opportunity for Lyles to add to his legacy—but only if GST can deliver on visibility. For now, it seems like Lyles is content to wait, saying, “I need to know that it’s going to be seen consistently.” Until then, the 100m World and Olympic champion is enjoying his downtime after a trailblazing 2024 season.