Noah Lyles is one of those athletes who really divides opinion. Many people admire his demeanor and candid personality along, with his unapologetic confidence. However, some people have no tolerance for it. When it comes to his fellow sprinters it appears that Lyles isn’t exactly garnering favor among them. His relationship with some of the top names in sprinting, like Fred Kerley, Letsile Tebogo, particularly with Christian Coleman, has been pretty tense. It’s all about rivalry, and that’s something that’s been brewing for a while. Ato Boldon, a sprinting legend, even described Lyles and Coleman’s dynamic as “Fire and Ice.” And it really couldn’t be a more accurate description, especially when their rivalry heated up in 2024.

Back in March, during the World Indoor Championships, Lyles challenged Coleman in a 60m race which Coleman has been dominating for a while. So what happened next? Of course, Coleman crossed the line to take the victory with a time of 6.41 seconds. Still, Lyles didn’t back down—on the last stretch of the race, he was pretty much good and finished in 6.44- taking home the silver.

Prior to that, earlier in February at the USATF Indoor Championships Lyles was actually the surprise winner in the 60m in a personal best time of 6.43 seconds. That was a big win for him because he had never defeated Coleman in the 60m event before. Coleman was part of a rare misfire in an event he hadn’t lost since 2022. But this rivalry? It’s definitely more than just a race; there’s some real tension between these two that goes way beyond the track.

In the new Netflix docuseries Sprint, the tension between Lyles and Coleman is laid bare, and Coleman is pretty clear about his approach to all the drama. Despite their rivalry, Coleman insists that he doesn’t get swept up in the hype or the antics surrounding other athletes, especially Noah Lyles.

“I’ve been knowing Noah Lyles because we have competed over the years, but honestly, I try not to buy or feed into other people’s antics. It’s just not me; I’m not that type of guy,” Coleman explains. For him, it’s all about the competition and staying focused. And his hunger for success? It’s only growing. “It’s dog-eat-dog for sure, and I want it more for sure,” he says, making it clear that he’s in this for the long haul.

Lyles certainly had his share of wins throughout his career without a doubt! One standout moment that really put him on the map was his performance, at the 2024 Paris Olympics when he clocked in at 9.79 seconds to clinch victory in the 100-meter race. Now even though Lyles is enjoying his successful Olympics triumphs Coleman isn’t fading into obscurity either.

Despite missing out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics due to not qualifying in the trials, Coleman remains a fierce contender in the track and field scene. Because he finds motivation from his past triumphs. He still cherishes his victory against Usain Bolt during the 2017 World Championships, an accomplishment that has stayed with him over time.

“That was a pretty big moment,” Coleman recalled smilingly. It was a great achievement for Coleman to not only compete alongside Bolt, the world’s fastest man over the distance but to finish second in the final of the 100m in a time of 9.94sec. Still, Bolt was retiring, but Coleman showed that he could match himself with the top competitors easily. However, the rivalry with Lyles continues, which means that both the sprinters are inspired by previous wins and their competition. But there’s something more to Lyles’ competitive spirit: that has been described as a bitter, spoken rivalry with just about all the leading players in the track.

Is Noah Lyles too full of himself? Letsile Tebogo and Fred Kerley spill the beans!

After winning the 200m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the newly-crowned champion Letsile Tebogo had some strong words about Noah Lyles. After the race, Tebogo was asked if he aspired to become the face of track and field. He responded by saying, “For me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah,” while adding that Lyles was better suited to that role than him. What led him to say that?

Well, before the race, Lyles had confidently predicted a gold medal for himself, stating he’d complete the 100m and 200m double and added, “When I come off the turn, they will be depressed.” However, the 200m race didn’t go as planned for the American, as Tebogo claimed the gold in a stunning 19.46 seconds, with Bednarek securing silver at 19.62, and Lyles finishing third with 19.70. However, it seems Fred Kerley also shares the same opinion as Tebogo.

In the Paris Olympics, Lyles secured the gold in the 100 meters, narrowly beating Kerley, who took bronze for the second consecutive time. In an interview, Lyles reflected on their rivalry, acknowledging the differences in their personalities. “Fred and I are very different. I am very open about my emotions; he is not. Fred is that very much quiet personality,” Lyles said. Their relationship stays strictly professional. “He’s not calling me up like, ‘Hey, you wanna go out for the weekend?’ That is not our relationship,” he added.

The Netflix docuseries Sprint has pulled back the curtain on their rivalry, showing the contrasting approaches both athletes bring to the sport. Kerley, who prefers to keep things low-key, expressed his frustration with Lyles’ attention-grabbing style. “That is Noah’s style; he does it for attention. I don’t do nothin’ for attention,” Kerley said. “I run track and go about my business. I ain’t come here to tease the camera. It is cool if he does it, but I am here to run fast, to kill you, bash your head, and go about my business.”

Kerley is known for his more reserved and no-nonsense approach to the sport, contrasting with Lyles’ extroverted, attention-grabbing personality. Lyles often makes bold statements and displays a lot of confidence, which can come off as brash or disrespectful to some, including Kerley. Even Kerley made a statement about Lyles, saying, “Noah can’t do that to me… I don’t f**k with Noah. It’s as simple as that.”

Well, Noah Lyles is definitely a character who stirs the pot—he’s got that larger-than-life personality and never shies away from speaking his mind. Whether you’re a fan or not of his nature and bold attitude you can’t deny that his determination and competitive edge truly sets him apart as a contender in the sprinting.