Not many 27-year-olds can flaunt a dazzling collection of six world titles, three Olympic medals, and an American record like Noah Lyles can—and he does it all with that signature electric swagger we’ve come to love! Fresh off snagging his Olympic gold, Lyles is soaking up all the adoration, but let’s face it—fame comes with its fair share of haters. Some folks haven’t held back from voicing their thoughts on Lyles’ larger-than-life personality, with a few saying it might be a bit too much. But come on, Noah Lyles knows how to keep things spicy!

Remember when he raced at the Olympics even after testing positive for COVID-19? Talk about daring! And who could forget his audacious comment about NBA players when he cheekily asked, “World champion of what?” That stirred the pot! Wherever Lyles steps in, there’s bound to be some lively debates, and that’s just part of his fearless vibe, right? While a few critics tried to rain on his parade, several track and field legends rallied behind him, supporting the Olympic champ!

During a recent chat, Noah Lyles shared his thoughts when asked about the legendary Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, who expressed his belief that “the sport needs someone like you as champion.” Noah replied, “Bolt told me the same thing.” It’s like a breath of fresh air when a titan of the track praises your game, right?

Lyles continued, sharing how uplifting it was to hear support instead of the usual noise. “It’s nice to not have everyone criticize you constantly and call you cocky and arrogant.” It seems like Lyles is embracing the love while staying true to his authentic self, reminding everyone that support needs a little encouragement, too!

Back in August, the legendary Carl Lewis shared in an interview that there’s “no question” it would be “best for the sport” if Noah Lyles snagged a couple of gold medals in Paris. He believes the sport needs someone like Lyles, the defending champion and fastest man in the world. “We need someone to grab onto. I think he’s the perfect guy to do that, and I’m excited about that,” he told Fox News Digital. But there’s definitely a reason why these legends are rallying behind Noah!

Is Noah Lyles ready to join the legends?

If you were watching the 2024 Paris Olympics, you already know that Noah Lyles was totally making waves, shouting out that he’s the “World’s Fastest Man.” Right after his crazy win in the 100-meter final—a finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats—Lyles was on a mission to let the world know he’s not just about the medals. He wants to boost the whole sport to a new level, and honestly, he’s got the energy to do it! Every time he hit the track at Stade de France, it felt like he was racing against history itself.

But wait, that 100-meter win was just his opening act! Lyles had his eyes set on snagging gold in the 200-meter and the 4×100-meter relay, too. If he pulled that off, he’d be in the same legendary chat as Jesse Owens, Bobby Morrow, Carl Lewis, and Usain Bolt—like, how epic would that be? The pressure was on, and the excitement was real!

However, things didn’t go exactly as he hoped. He took home the gold in the 100 meters but had to settle for bronze in the 200 meters after revealing he had COVID-19 during that race. Bummer, right? But hey, don’t count Lyles out! He’s got the skills and determination to turn things around and keep chasing those dreams. This ride isn’t over yet, and we’re all here for the next chapter!