Being a track and field athlete is no small feat, and becoming an Olympic athlete takes it to a whole new level. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female—competing against these athletes is tough! Recently, a footballer decided to challenge a track star, and guess what? It was a female athlete! Can you guess how that went? Let’s rewind a bit: Owens M posted on X about this race between a footballer and a two-time Olympian track and field star.

It was captivating to witness Laviai Nielsen, the British 400m runner who made her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, effortlessly outpace a football player during a race. Owens aptly captioned the moment: “POV: A footballer gets humbled by a 2x Olympic medallist in a sprint race 💀. It’s Laviai going nowhere close to all-out effort for me.” Well, you might be daunting who this Laviai Nielsen is.

Laviai Nielsen is the British 400m runner who made her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, but she made a strong impression at the Paris 2024 Games by securing a bronze medal in the mixed 4x400m relay. Now, she’s become a prominent face in various publications and has gained quite a following, with 204k Instagram followers and 18.2k YouTube subscribers.

However, Laviai’s journey has not been without challenges. In the run-up to Tokyo 2021, she began experiencing a numb feeling on one side of her body after races, especially when she was overheated or had high adrenaline. After some tests, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) just two weeks before the Games. “It was devastating,” Laviai shared, explaining how difficult it was to adjust so quickly to the diagnosis, leading to her team finishing fifth in the event—something she described as a “disappointment” in track and field.

Laviai’s athletic achievements are also remarkable—her 400m time of 50.83 seconds at the 2019 World Athletics Championships was the fastest by a British woman since Christine Ohuruogu’s gold-winning performance in 2015. Even with the ups and downs, Laviai’s resilience shines through, as she continues to inspire both on and off the track. While watching her compete, the footballer was left feeling embarrassed as the fans made their disapproval clear.

Track and field fans react to track Star’s victory over a footballer with a real wake-up call

One fan commented, “She slows down once she passes the guy. I think people underestimate what a 11-12 second 100m really is.” Another added, “She shouldn’t have wasted her time. Footballers are fast they might be skillful but it’s embarrassing that they feel they can beat track athletes who literally trained for speed over distance.”

Well, early in this year, a similar thing happened to Alahna Sabbakhan, who is a Division 1 track and field athlete from the University of Virginia and gained viral fame after racing a friend of her boyfriend who believed he could easily beat her. The challenge took place over 400 meters, a race she excels in, even though it’s one of the most demanding events on the track. During the first half of the race, Alahna maintained her pace alongside her challenger, but after the 200-meter mark, she picked up speed and surged ahead, ultimately finishing in an impressive 57 seconds.

After the race, he graciously acknowledged his defeat, stating it was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Alahna’s performance reinforced the message that female athletes should be taken seriously and recognized for their skills.

Another fan added, “Lavai making this footballer look like a foot staller.” One more added, “Average unprofessional men secretly enjoy humiliation or they really think they can beat a professional who has trained hard since childhood lol. Toxic masculinity if I speak… 😅 They want to prove too much.” It’s an interesting conversation, especially since we’ve seen quite a few track and field athletes cross over to football.

Take Tyreek Hill, for example—he’s got a solid track background himself. Back in 2012, he snagged two medals at the World Junior Championships: gold in the 4×100 relay and bronze in the 200-meter dash. His 200 time of 20.14 seconds was fast enough to qualify him for the Olympic Trials, but he didn’t end up competing that year. After setting his sights on the Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed because of COVID-19, he made his NFL debut with the Cowboys in 2014, catching a season-high six passes for 62 yards against Florida State. Now, he’s making headlines not just for his football skills but also for this exciting rivalry with Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles!

The rivalry between Tyreek Hill and Noah Lyles ignited when Hil claimed in an interview on the Up & Adams Podcast that he could beat Lyles in a race. This bold assertion quickly went viral and prompted Hill to challenge Lyles publicly with a post on X, saying, “Sign the contract and lock in that 50 yard race.” The competitive spirit led to the announcement that their race would be featured in the “Super Serious On Sight” series, hosted by actor Terry Crews, as part of a new track league called Duael. While specific race details are still pending, the matchup is highly anticipated.

One last fan added, “A guy who runs like that is also annoying.” This just goes to show that underestimating track and field athletes is a recipe for embarrassment, as they train tirelessly to achieve Olympic greatness!