Noah Lyles is one of the most popular figures on track right now. While he won two medals at the Olympics recently, his off-court escapades have brought numerous eyeballs in the world of track and field. The NBA controversy, where he criticized the whole league for using the term ‘world supports’ for the title winners, despite playing primarily US teams, attracted a lot of hate. This brought some basketball stars representing the USA into the stands to watch him race at the 100m finals, where he won the gold medal.

When asked about his feelings on the matter, he said to EssentiallySports, “I hope they enjoyed the show. I don’t know if they came in support or just to see me fail, but, you know, either way, they came.” He continued, “And, you know, I’m glad that I could bring the entertainment to a level where they would want to come and watch, regardless of the reason.”

Other than that, his high voltage entries at the 200m final in Paris and the World Championship in Budapest, along with his camaraderie with Snoop Dogg, have seen his popularity rise to new levels. But has his impact on the sport been like no other athlete ever before? Well, that’s what Rai Benjamin says!

Rai Benjamin, who won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics, has made a stunning claim in an interview posted by SportsCenter. The middle-distance runner said, “Listen I think to be fair, a lot of people came up through the ranks such as Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, and Yohan Blake but I think the level of attention that track and field now has is because of their series sprint and because of who Noah is as a person.” But that’s not all! He added, “His ability to bring the masses outside the track and field like the entire NBA environment where I feel like they were really tuned in to see what would happen.”

This isn’t the first time that Rai Benjamin has expressed his vocal support of Noah Lyles. When NFL star Tyreek Hill claimed he could take Lyles in a race, Benjamin was quick to jump to his defense, rubbishing Hill’s claims. He said, “A part of me wishes I played in college, to be honest with you…I’m not going to pull a Tyreek and say like, ‘I’m faster than Noah or like I could go catch a ball or something.’ I’m tired of the Noah Lyles slander man, that’s my guy, I’m tired of the slander.”

He went on to assert that Hill wouldn’t stand a chance against college athletes, let alone Lyles. His support for the American runner has been unwavering, and his recent comments about the impact of a professional environment were no exception. However, his remarks didn’t shield him from social media trolls, who pounced on his comments with a barrage of criticism.

Fans slam Rai Benjamin for suggesting that Noah Lyles is more impactful than Usain Bolt for the sport

One user commented, “You can’t be serious.. changed the game? If it wasn’t for a green sprinter, he wouldn’t (win) gold in any event. Delusional. People really think he’s Bolt? FoH.” This comment suggested that Noah Lyles hasn’t faced substantial competition, making it easier for him to rack up gold medals. Another user acknowledged Lyles’ impact on the sport but argued that he didn’t revolutionize it like Rai Benjamin claimed.

Bolt clinched gold in the 100m and 200m at three consecutive Olympics—in 2008, 2012, and 2016. So the fan said, “Noah Lyles is incredible, but he didn’t change the game. Usain Bolt changed the game. Repeating as 100 & 200 champ is insane, but doing it 3 times is something I don’t think we ever see again.”

Another comment emphasized that both Bolt and Michael Johnson had a more profound impact on the sport than Lyles. It read, “Noah Lyles has done well for the sport, but the places Michael Johnson and latterly Usain Bolt took athletics are in a completely different multiverse to anything Lyles can even fathom.” Johnson held the 200m record for 22 years until Bolt broke it in 2008, and the Jamaican now holds both the 100m and 200m world records.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 200m Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 08, 2024. Bronze medallist Noah Lyles of the United States reacts after the race. REUTERS/Aleksandra SzmigielOn the flip side, some defended Noah Lyles, suggesting that the mere fact of his comments being discussed during an interview reflects his impact. They pointed out that the shift in focus from Rai Benjamin’s achievements to Lyles’ comments indicated his influence. One user said, “If SportsCenter posts the clip of you talking about Noah over the one where you discuss your Olympic achievements, I think it is fair to say Noah has indeed raised American Track & Field visibility.”

Another added, “Controversy attracts attention, and that’s just the reality. Noah Lyles’ bold comments stir conversation, which in turn helps boost viewership for track and field events.” There’s no denying the impact Noah Lyles has made in the world of track and field. However, is he really the most impactful track star ever, as Rai Benjamin suggested? What do you think? Share in the comments below!