“Have to Go against the World”: Sha’Carri Richardson Defends Noah Lyles as NBA Players Leave No Chance to Trash Him

Team USA won big at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. As the elite competition concluded, the USA was the table topper in the overall medals tally with 29 world championship medals in total. Out of these 29 medals, 12 were gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze medals. The U.S. men’s and women’s track teams played a huge role in the U.S. dominating the competition. Most notable among them were Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson. Lyles won three gold medals while Richardson won two gold and one bronze world championship medal.

Not only did Lyles dominate the track, but he has continued to make headlines off the track as well. However, his recent comments at a press conference did not sit right with a host of NBA stars who have called out the track sensation online. Despite the backlash, Lyles was supported by Richardson, who took to X and tweeted in favor of Lyles.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s tweet of support for Noah Lyles

Lyles had a spectacular world championships run that saw him winning a hat trick of gold. His impressive form saw him appearing in front of the media a number of times during the tournament. More recently, during a press conference, Lyles said, “You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head. World champion of what? The United States?” 

After getting a lot of backlash from NBA stars, Sha’Carri Richardson defended her Team USA teammate by standing with Lyles. Her tweet read, “I’m standing with Noah on this one !! @LylesNoah the organization have players from different countries but do they compete against different countries. You have to go against the world in order to be a world champion!!” 

Lyles may have found support in Richardson but NBA star Kevin Durant, who has 3 Olympic golds and 1 World Championship gold in his cabinet, wrote, “Somebody help this brother”, as he referred to Lyles’ press conference speech.

Aaron Gordon, reigning NBA champion, said, “Whatever…. I’m smoking buddy in the 200m”. However, all the backlash being received by Lyles cannot take away the fact that he dominated all events he participated in at the world championships in Budapest and set several individual records in the process.

American track star sets record

Not only did Noah Lyles have a great tournament in Budapest, but he also ended up setting some personal records. By winning the 100m and 200m in Budapest, Lyles became only the second athlete to win both events in the same world championships since Usain Bolt in 2015.

After winning the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, he again became only the 2nd male athlete to achieve the feat after Usain Bolt. The only other female to have managed this incredible feat was Allyson Felix.

Read more: “Is There Money on the Line?”: Noah Lyles Slams Critics While Shutting Down Usain Bolt Rivalry

As Lyles continues to dominate the track, he asks for more representation from other countries in major competitions like the NBA.

His comments will also help sports fans in witnessing the competition faced by athletes participating in athletic tournaments as they go against the best from all over the world in order to win Olympic medals and world championship medals.

Watch this story: Despite the Loss on Track, Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce Won Hearts at World Athletics Championships