Not many 27-year-olds can boast six world titles, three Olympic medals, and an American record under their belt, but Noah Lyles can—and he does it with that electric swagger we all know him for. Fresh off his Olympic gold, Lyles has been basking in the love, but as we all know, fame comes with a side of criticism. Plenty of folks haven’t shied away from sharing their opinions about Lyles’ larger-than-life personality, some calling it too much.
Noah Lyles definitely knows how to keep things spicy! He stirred the pot by racing at the Olympics even after testing positive for COVID-19. And let’s not forget his bold remark about NBA players—when he asked, “World champion of what?” that got everyone talking! Wherever Lyles shows up, there’s bound to be some heated debates, and that’s just part of his fearless vibe, right?
Let’s face it—Noah Lyles isn’t the kind of guy to shy away from the fire. A recent example of this came when an update on X, an account called Jake Johnson put out a post sharing, “The disrespect @LylesNoah gets unreal. “being an Olympic gold medalist takes hard work” is now being disputed on social media?!?” Jake further shared that he saw a comment that said, “speed is just genetics anyway.” And he continued, “What people like Bolt & Lyles have done for the sport, folks like Tyreek bring it right back down.”
Noah Lyles then hopped onto X to address this criticism, sharing a little wisdom along the way. He said, “It’s ok, the thoughts of twitter do not reflect the thoughts of the world. In person I have been blessed to have people come up to me and tell me how much I have inspired them and others.” Looks like he’s all about focusing on the love and tuning out the noise!
It’s ok, the thoughts of twitter do not reflect the thoughts of the world.
In person I have been blessed to have people come up to me and tell me how much I have inspired them and others.— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) September 19, 2024
After the Paris Olympics, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill stirred the pot by trolling Noah Lyles on the “Up & Adams” podcast, claiming he could outrun the Olympic gold medalist. Then, after weeks of back-and-forth banter online in a chat with ESPN’s Stan Verrett, the race challenge resurfaced, and Lyles didn’t hold back.
“But in terms of running a race … look man you gotta be serious. Everybody wants to jump up to the top … everybody wants to race the ‘fastest man.’ I didn’t grab this title because it’s easy. Or because I went the easy route.” When Verrett joked about Hill needing to level up like in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, Lyles seemed to agree.
He even hinted that if the race happens, it would be at 60 meters. Now while that’s a race, we can’t wait to see this honest confession by the 100m Olympics champion isn’t Noah Lyles’ first rodeo when it comes to sharing his struggles. He’s opened up about dealing with bullying and how his family has been his ultimate support squad. So, how does Noah Lyles deal with all that bullying?
Noah Lyles’ emotional turmoil after Paris
Did you know that about a week before the 100-meter dash in Paris, Noah Lyles was feeling a bit off, both in his head and body? He described himself as sluggish and struggled to get out of the starting blocks like he usually does. Plus, he found out that his high school coach, Rashawn Jackson, was being honored with a funeral during the Olympics. That news hit him hard, adding even more weight to an already intense moment.
To cope, Lyles found himself slipping away during meals, sporting a hat, glasses, and a mask to blend into the background. He’d nestle into a corner, dodging social interactions while getting his head ready for the biggest races of his life. It wasn’t the easiest gig, but he was all about channeling that energy into something epic on the track!
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 200m Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 08, 2024. Noah Lyles of United States before he receives medical attention after winning bronze. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Amid all the chaos, Lyles dealt with the usual backlash. He knows it’s tough for folks to defend him without the full picture or his crew to fill in the gaps. “Not everyone knows the full story,” he pointed out. “I’m waiting for the right media to bring out the full story.”
He’s keeping his head high, looking ahead, and ready to tell his truth when the moment feels right! With all the buzz surrounding Noah Lyles, his controversies, and his raw honesty, what are your thoughts on how he effectively shuts down the hate? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Noah Lyles shuts down trolls—Is this the best way to handle online bullying?