After an electrifying indoor season, all eyes eagerly awaited the outdoor performances of track stars Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman. With bold claims to break Usain Bolt’s world records in the 100m and 200m events, expectations were high for Noah Lyles, while fans were also eagerly anticipating Christian Coleman’s performances, especially after his World Indoor Championship win in the 60m.

However, as the outdoor season has begun, both athletes have failed to meet the sky-high expectations, igniting a firestorm of criticism from disappointed fans online. Stepping into the debate, Hunter Woodhall, the supportive husband of 2024 World Indoor Championship gold medalist in long jump Tara Davis-Woodhall, added his opinion, defending athletes like Lyles and Coleman and clapping back at the haters.

Hunter Woodhall claps back at hateful backlash

Hunter Woodhall, who won a bronze medal in the 2020 Summer Paralympics Men’s 400m T62, came to the defense of athletes like Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman. In a post shared by the X by Track Spice account, Hunter’s powerful message resonated strongly. He expressed, “I’m so tired of people complaining about slow times in track right now.” Hunter pointed out that it was only April and the season had just begun. He emphasized that athletes were not at their peak performance levels, as they were in heavy training cycles, running extensively, and lifting heavy weights.

Additionally, Hunter highlighted that most athletes would not taper for these early meets, meaning they were competing under load and often carrying extra body weight for health and performance reasons. He concluded his note by stating, “It’s an Olympic year, no one is concerned about running fast now. The goal is August. Unless you’re going to run faster, please refrain from complaining.” As we reflect on these words, let’s examine the latest performances by Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman that ignited this debate.

Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman’s speeds that caused the controversy

Christian Coleman entered the Shanghai Diamond League as a favorite to secure gold. With previous claims by the athlete, fans were even hoping for Coleman to break the world record. However, Akani Simbine outpaced him, clocking 10.01s, while Coleman fell short with 10.04s. Similarly, Noah Lyles has also failed to make a significant impact so far. While competing in the Bermuda Grand Prix, Lyles managed to win with exceptional skill, but his time of 9.96 left fans disappointed.

Countless fans left comments below his post on Instagram, with one saying, “9.96? That’s it 🤨”, while another expressed, “Has any runner run under 9.90 yet this year? Why is everybody so slow? I feel like it’s gonna be the worst 100-meter Olympic.” Noah and his coach have been prioritizing weight training and bulking up early this season, a fact highlighted by Hunter Woodhall. This sheds light on the slow momentum building. Woodhall’s clapback not only adds to the drama, but also perfectly shuts down the hate. What are your thoughts on this? Comment below!