If Sha’Carri Richardson was the fastest woman in 2023, then Noah Lyles was, without a doubt, the fastest man. But let’s be real—it’s not just their speed that has fans hooked. These two are always making waves, whether it’s Sha’Carri speaking her mind on track drama or Lyles calling out pay disparities in the sport. And now, fans are buzzing over the idea of them teaming up on the track. Can you imagine? After Lyles crushed it with Olympic gold in the 100m and Richardson snagged silver, the internet is practically begging for these two to headline a relay team.

All this excitement exploded after World Athletics dropped a huge announcement: the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is coming in 2026. This new event will bring together 400 of the best athletes in the world for three days of nonstop action in Budapest. With a prize pool of $10 million—yep, you read that right—this championship is set to be the next big thing. And here’s the kicker: it includes the mixed 4x100m relay. That’s right, men and women sprinting together, which means the dream duo of Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles could actually happen.

When Travis Miller shared a post on X featuring Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, and Christian Coleman with the caption, “Who would you pick for your dream team?” the internet lit up. Fans have been vocal about their choices, with many rallying for Richardson and Lyles to headline the relay team. If the duo does take the baton together in 2026, it could go down as one of the most thrilling chapters in modern track and field.

Can Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles work through the handoff challenges?

One fan hyped up a dream relay team, saying, “Richardson, Jefferson, Lyles, Kerley.” If that squad comes together, Team USA might just have gold locked down for the Ultimate Championship! Sha’Carri Richardson, with her 10.65 seconds at the 2023 World Championships, has been unstoppable. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, she proved her mettle again, anchoring Team USA to a gold medal in the 4x100m relay. Her 10.09-second split on the final leg sealed the deal.

Then there’s Noah Lyles, who torched the track at the Paris Olympics with a 9.79 seconds to take gold in the 100m. While he skipped the 4x100m relay heats to focus on his 200m final, his teammates—Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Kyree King, and Courtney Lindsey—put on a show, clocking a scorching 37.47 seconds to secure the fastest time. The men’s team from the United States seemed determined to redeem themselves after missing out in Tokyo 2020. They were ready to take charge again.

One more fan added, “Coleman to Sha’Carri to Gabby to Noah 🥇,” and another added, “This would be my dream team.” Someone else chimed in, “Sha’Carri to Kenny to Sydney to Noah.” Honestly, the hype is real, and it’s easy to see why everyone’s so excited. Imagine a mixed relay with these stars—absolute fire!

Just look at Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She’s practically rewriting history books in the 400-meter hurdles, breaking her own world record not once but multiple times. During the 2024 Paris Olympics event she achieved a time of 50.37 seconds, in her race. A record broken once more! But Kenny Bednarek is also no less! He also showed his talent by securing the silver medal in the 200 meters with a time of 19.62 seconds. Adding to their success are the renowned track stars Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, as together they form a team that would surely excel internationally.

One fan pointed out something interesting: “Mixed 4×100 is going to be tricky. You can’t just throw a squad together, men and women run at different speeds, and the handoffs. Be disastrous if they are not meticulous, they finna be up eachothers backs or they won’t be able to catch their male counterparts.” It’s a valid point, right? The mixed relay definitely adds a layer of complexity because, let’s face it, men and women have different speeds, so the handoff has to be super precise. Otherwise, things could get messy.

But, you know, when you’ve got athletes like Richardson, Lyles, and others who know how to perform under pressure, it’s hard to count them out. Yes, the men tend to be faster, but with the right teamwork and strategy, those handoffs could be spot on. Track stars are known for pulling off the unexpected, so who knows? They could totally surprise us!