In just 9.83 seconds, Noah Lyles reaffirmed his status as the ‘world’s fastest man.’ Having already clinched the World Champion title in 2019 and 2022, Lyles once again showcased his extraordinary speed at the National Athletics Centre on August 20, defending his crown. But this coveted title isn’t his alone; it’s also held by Italy’s Marcell Jacobs, the reigning Olympic champion. As the athletics world buzzes with this shared glory, we at EssentiallySports turned to 9-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis for his insights.

Carl Lewis needs no introduction. The legendary Olympian and former world record holder in the 100m dash, with his astonishing time of 9.86 seconds, dominated a race where six men finished under sub-10 seconds, solidifying his status as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, the three-time NCAA champion shares his unique and unexpected perspective on the current landscape of sprinting. Brace yourself, because his insights will undoubtedly challenge your views on the sport!

Carl Lewis backs Noah Lyles up and spills the beans on how he views the sport

In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySport’s Olympic correspondent, Shreya Verma, in collaboration with Tide, the 9x Olympian pulled back the curtain on what he thinks about the debate in question. “I have this thing I say which is called kerflama. It’s confusion and drama. This whole thing is unnecessary.” Since the title was bestowed upon him, Lyles has been basking in the glory of it all. However, much to his dismay, many don’t seem to have the same opinion, claiming the title doesn’t belong to him. 

But Lewis doesn’t quite agree with this. “So here’s the deal. Yeah. Because of the fact that people now refuse to believe that sports happened before the year 2000. Yeah. The defending Olympic champion or defending world champion has always been the fastest man in the world. Yes, the world record holder is the world record holder, yes. But now everyone’s sensitive and they want to conflate the two.” Lyles has previously stated the same thing. Many still believe that the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt rightfully claimed the title through his illustrious career on the track. The Jamaican’s impressive times in both the 100m and 200m dash still dominate the World Athletics’ all-time top list.

However, the 8x World Champion squashed this belief, “They’re not, they’re separate because you say Noah Lyles is the fastest man in the world. That is not a diss of Usain Bolt, you see him as a world record holder and that’s it.” At the 1984 Olympics, Carl Lewis – now a full-time assistant coach at the University of Houston – swept up four Olympic golds in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and long jump, establishing himself as an unparalleled legend in track and field. Years later, Usain Bolt emerged, winning all three of his events and setting world records at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. The Jamaican sprinter then surpassed his own monumental record, setting a new 100m world record of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

Is Noah Lyles the future record holder?

To this very day, no one has been able to surpass it. “Because right now, he I, who have been the fastest man in the world and world record holders, are the fastest man in the world right now. So we’re both retired. We’re still in the same boat. But he is a world record holder.” There you have it, the legend has spoken! Lewis finally leaves our correspondent Shreya Verma with one last comment. “So therefore, I’m putting that to rest. So now, stop all the kerflama. Yeah. It is world record holder, and the fastest man in the world is a person that won the major championship last. So that’s it. No disrespect either.” Many would like to believe that Lyles would only be deemed worthy if he surpasses the Jamaican’s insane world record times. However, Carl Lewis’ bold claim acts as the final word to this debate.

If you think the ‘World’s Fastest Man’ claim is a bit much, Lyles has made yet another audacious claim. Leading up to the Paris Olympics, the world champion made it known that he would be coming for Usain Bolt’s records. Despite his times in the 100m and 200m not reflecting thft he remains confident. In an EssentiallySports Exclusive interview on July 22, our correspondent broached the subject with Paralympian Ezra Frech.

Known to be good friends with the 27-year-old, the athlete’s face lit right up. He promptly stated, “Do I think he can break Usain Bolt’s world record? I think he can do it. I hope he does, and I’ll be watching and supporting him, and I hope he makes it happen.” At the 2023 World Championship in Budapest, Lyles had stated how he believes the 100m record will be “a lot closer once I get the first 10 metres down.” Regardless of whether the sprinter breaks the record at the Stade de France or in future competitions, he firmly believes that there will come a time when the record will bear his friend’s name. After all, it’s true what they say—records are meant to be broken. What do you think about Carl Lewis’ insights on the never-ending debate surrounding Noah Lyles? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!