GOAT. Greatest Of All Time. Who really deserves this ultimate title? With every stunning moment at the Paris Olympics, we’re reminded how athletes keep pushing the limits of their sports. Can we even compare Simone Biles’ gravity-defying vaults to Katie Ledecky’s long-distance master-stroke dominance? And then there’s Michael Phelps, whose medal haul of 28 Olympic medals is a record-breaker of its own. And let’s not get started on the “Fastest Man in the World,” debate between Usain Bolt and Noah Lyles!

Each of these icons has reshaped their sport, claiming their place as the Greatest of All Time. But here’s a spicy take: is the GOAT label getting tossed around a bit too casually these days? Carl Lewis, the “Olympian of the Century” and “Sportsman of the Century,” shared exclusively with EssentiallySports, in collaboration with Tide, from the French capital that the sports world might be overdoing it!

Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis has been soaking in the history-making showdowns at the epicenter of sporting greatness at the Paris Olympics, cheering on Team USA phenoms like Simone Biles, Noah Lyles, and Sha’Carri Richardson. But when our correspondent, Shreya Verma, asked him who the Greatest of All Time is, he threw us a curveball. “It’s really funny. We never used the word GOAT until like 20 years ago. Now, everyone’s a GOAT. My mom is a GOAT with that tie, you know. So, I don’t look at it like that.”

He explained, “We’re in a culture where everyone compares. What’s great is that I’m sitting here at the Olympic Games, and I can see Sha’Carri Richardson. I can see Noah Lyles. Simone Biles is here. Katie Ledecky’s here. That’s where I am. I’m in this place with so many amazing people and such diversity. Now, with women having so many [achievements], we get to see them, so I don’t get into all of that.”

Carl Lewis, who has made history and is considered one of the most successful track and field stars, knows it’s not fair to pit one legend against another. He told us at EssentiallySports, “I also don’t get into comparing eras because you compete against the people you run against. I’m more marveled at the great athletes here and their stories.”

Reflecting on his words, isn’t it powerful to see the veteran pass the baton to the new generation, watching in awe and applauding as the boundaries of sports continue to be pushed? But speaking of comparisons, did you know that in the world of track and field, Carl Lewis’s legacy even challenges that of Usain Bolt?

“Olympian of the Century” Lewis did something Usain Bolt never did!

In the ultimate showdown of track legends, Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis are neck and neck, each bringing their own electrifying strengths to the track. Bolt, with his jaw-dropping speed, ruled the 100m and 200m sprints from 2001 to 2017, topping the world rankings four times in the 100m and setting the 100m and 200m world records in 2009 that are still standing tall in 2024. But don’t count out Lewis just yet!

A post on X from Take Me Higher reignited the debate by showcasing a detailed list of Lewis’s world rankings from 1979 to 1996. Lewis was ranked in the top 2 in the 100m for a decade straight, from 1981 to 1991, often sitting comfortably at number 1, proving he was consistently the fastest sprinter in the world. He also dominated the long jump, staying in the top 2 from 1981 to 1992, with multiple years at number 1, proving he was the best long jumper over a long period of time.

In the 200m, Lewis was in the top 3, but not as consistently number 1 as in the 100m or long jump. This showed that while Bolt was a phenom on the track, Carl Lewis managed to stay consistent for a longer period and dominate in both track and field events.

But that’s not all. The Fastest Man Alive, Usain Bolt, boasts 8 Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship golds, while Lewis flaunts an impressive 9 Olympic golds and 8 World Championship golds. It’s clear that while Bolt might have the speed, Lewis had a long-lasting, all-around impact on the sport!