Noah Lyles might have finally come to terms with who truly holds the title of the fastest man on Earth. After snagging Olympic gold in the 100m, Lyles was quickly crowned the world’s fastest, but not without some backlash. NFL’s “Cheetah” Tyreek Hill even threw down the gauntlet, challenging Lyles, while others weren’t shy about pointing out that the title of the fastest man ever still belongs to Usain Bolt. With his jaw-dropping world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m, Bolt set a bar so high it’s practically in orbit—and it’s stayed untouched for 15 years!

Lyles, always up for a challenge, vowed to chase down Bolt’s records as he geared up for the Paris Olympics. He even had dreams of bagging four Olympic golds to cement his track and field dominance. But fate had other plans. A bout of COVID-19 threw a wrench in his ambitions. While Lyles did clinch the 100-meter gold with a solid 9.79 seconds, it was still a ways off from Bolt’s legendary mark. Recently, when asked about breaking that elusive 9.58 barrier, Lyles didn’t sound too convinced—maybe even a little hesitant to claim the title for himself!

Noah Lyles might be the fastest man today, but he’s still tipping his hat to Usain Bolt’s legacy!

Noah Lyles dropped some truth bombs on the ‘How to Believe in Yourself’ podcast, diving into the whirlwind that is the ‘Fastest Man on Earth’ debate. The Olympic gold medalist tackled the topic head-on, noting how the title gets tossed around between the world record holder, the Olympic champ, and the World Champion. It’s like a fast-paced game of tag where everyone’s trying to claim the title. But one thing Lyles is sure of:? The 9.58 mark is no walk in the park.

When asked if he’s faster than Usain Bolt, Lyles was pretty candid: “Not currently not currently. In the 200, I’m the third-fastest man ever to live. I do feel I have great pride in saying that too. As you look through all history, you just like, wait, since the earth started, I am the third fastest man ever to live.” Talk about a humble brag!

As for breaking that 9.58s barrier in training, Lyles admitted that hand timers make it tough to get an exact read. However, he did recall a memorable moment when he clocked 9.5 seconds while practicing a 200-meter run—starting from the 150-meter mark and blasting the last 50 meters.

Despite all the doubts and battling COVID-19, Noah Lyles shut them up by clinching gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with. But the drama didn’t end there. The ‘fastest man’ debate has spilled into other sports, with NFL star Tyreek Hill now challenging Lyles to a 50-meter showdown.

Lyles puts the Tyreek Hill challenge in the spotlight!

Previously on the Up & Adams show, Tyreek Hill threw down the gauntlet with a bold claim: “I’m not going to beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles.” Bold words from a guy who’s no stranger to full-throttle sprints! But things have gotten even spicier since then. Noah Lyles, not one to back down, playfully jabbed at Hill in a post by Jomboy Media: “What’s the cheetah guy from football, what’s his name? I can’t remember his name. What’s the football player who thinks he’s fast name?”

On the Nightcap podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco, Lyles called Hill’s comments a bid for clout, saying, “Tyreek is just chasing clout. Anytime somebody fast comes up, he says he wants to race them. If he really wanted to race people, he would’ve shown up like D.K. Metcalf.” With a smirk, he added, “The man dodges smoke, I don’t got time for that.” Naturally, Hill wasn’t having it. He fired back on X, challenging Lyles to a 50-yard race, writing, “Sign the contract and lock in a 50-yard race.”

Hill’s call for a shorter race didn’t sit well with fans, who accused him of trying to manipulate the matchup. With the tension cranked up, it’ll be interesting to see if Noah Lyles steps up to the plate. Given Lyles’ Olympic gold and bronze medals and his title as the third-fastest man in the 200m, do you think Tyreek Hill stands a chance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!