Usain Bolt’s Disrespect Irks US Track and Field Legend As He Joins Community in Online Bashing: “Which World?”

A new “Fastest Man in the World” on the horizon? The track world has been on the prowl for a suitable heir to Usain Bolt, and very few so far could hold a candle to him. The Lightning Bolt’s remarkable record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m at the 2009 IAAF World Championships still remains unbroken, even though he retired in 2017. However, the quest for a new athlete to claim this title has led to another set of noteworthy achievements.

Noah Lyles‘ 9.83 seconds in the 100m, attained in 2023, earned him the title of the “fastest man in the world” for that year, although it falls short of Bolt’s legendary mark by a significant margin. In this season, Noah Lyles’ best in 100m has been 9.96 seconds, secured at the 2024 USATF Bermuda Grand Prix. But amidst all these phenoms, there’s an 18-year-old furtive figure also making the world take notice with his nimble strides.

This younger wunderkind on the block is shaping up to be a formidable challenge, though he has miles to go before getting on par with Bolt. However, Lyles’ season record was surpassed by this boy, Christian Miller, who set a new best of 9.93 last month. But, this record was then surpassed by Omari Lewis, who clocked 9.88 in the 100m.

Recently, FloTrack shared a post on X, regarding Christian Miller’s participation in the upcoming high school state meet. Miller will compete in the 4×100 squad. The caption of the post read, “It’s not every day that the fastest man in the world competes in a high school state meet..,” However, this assertion raised eyebrows, particularly among the fans and seasoned sprinters like Micheal Johnson and Gabby Thomas.

Johnson, retired American sprinting legend, now working as a commentator for BBC, pointedly questioned this claim, “The Fastest man in the world?” This statement reflects the reality check Johnson aims to give the track world. While Miller undoubtedly has the characteristics of a great athlete, he still has a lot to reach Bolt or surpass him. This statement reignited discussions about the validity of FloTrack’s news, especially considering their recent acquisition of US broadcast rights for the Diamond League starting in 2025.

Interestingly, this means that the 2024 Diamond League season, which began on April 20 in Xiamen, China, marked the final year on NBC/Peacock, which has broadcasted the series since 2017. The decision to transition to FloTrack for the Diamond League broadcast was met with widespread criticism from US track fans and numerous American track stars, prompting FloTrack to disable comments on its social media posts announcing the move.

World champion and two-time Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas underscored the discontent, expressing on her Instagram story, “This might be the worst news I’ve heard from the Diamond League since… ever.” Moreover, the shift to FloTrack comes with a hefty price increase for US fans. While a Peacock subscription costs $5.99/month or $59.99/year, a FloTrack subscription is priced at $29.99/month or $149.99/year. This significant hike in subscription fees has left fans dismayed, especially considering they are essentially paying more for the same product. Such discontent highlights the financial strain placed on viewers and their dissatisfaction with the increased cost.

Noah Lyles also weighed in on the matter, emphasizing that the concern extended beyond high subscription fees. He pointed out, “I wish FloTrack offered more money to host the Diamond League domestically. That’s how they got it.” Lyles’ statement sheds light on the broader financial dynamics at play, suggesting that FloTrack secured broadcasting rights by offering substantial financial incentives. However, even as time passed, the controversy failed to subside. Now this potential misstep from FloTrack reignited the debate, causing fans to once again express their discontent through social media platforms.

Despite these impressive performances, Usain Bolt still remains the fastest man in the world. But what if this title was given to other athletes? Undoubtedly, that would provoke controversy and potentially slight Bolt’s achievements. Such was the case when a social media post made a hefty claim, sparking an old debate again.

Track and field fans are in uproar again!

Various voices emerged within the community of track and field enthusiasts to challenge the narrative on X. One individual wasted no time in challenging the assertion and bluntly stated, “He’s not the fastest man in the world,” which served as a bold declaration questioning the validity of Christian Miller’s presumed status. Amidst the prevailing skepticism surrounding the assertion, a thought-provoking question emerged, laden with mockery in the veil: “Which world?” This query encapsulated the overarching ambiguity surrounding the proclamation, subtly insinuating a potential disparity between the perceived truth and the actual reality of the situation.

Furthermore, the discontent within the track and field community was palpable as one fan voiced their dissatisfaction with the terminology used. They articulated their critique by stating, “Okay, giving it to the title holder is one thing, but calling the WL the fastest man is just disgusting.” This statement reflected a profound objection to labeling the World Leader as the fastest individual, suggesting a misalignment between the bestowed title and the individual’s actual performance(Usain Bolt). Another user with a similar sentiment echoed, “Surely the fastest man in the world is the world record holder, no? Is the world lead times below the fastest ever recorded, yes? So infact Christian Miller is #6 but probably the fastest of those athletes currently active in pursuing the 100m title.”

In search of clarity and accuracy, another perspective emerged, advocating for a shift in focus. “Fastest man in 2024 would have been a better headline,” suggested a fan, urging for a more precise representation of the current year’s achievements. These diverse reactions illuminated the complexity of the issue, reflecting a community grappling with discrepancies and seeking transparency in acknowledging athletic prowess. Christian Miller has a chance to prove his naysayers and come out unscathed now to give Bolt stiff competition.