Currently, track and field is undergoing an off-season, and fans are deliberate to see some action from their favorite sports stars. And one such track battle was seen from Noah Lyles and IShowSpeed, who participated in a $100,000 charity run sponsored by MrBeast. Obviously, the Olympic champion won the race, but the YouTuber was close to him throughout the 50m dash.

This race caught a lot of attention online, and eventually, it got noticed by Justin Gatlin, who was impressed by the way these two engaged in a friendly bout. Furthermore, the track legend appreciated this charity run, as it wasn’t just about the money that got added to Lyles’ purse but the way it increased the popularity of track and field due to such big names engaging in the race. However, while there were all positives discussed around this sprint, Paralympic champion Hunter Woodhall talked about a sad reality in the sport, comparing the earnings of the athlete with the amount that he received after this run.

The contrast within the track and field community

The friendly 50m dash between the Olympic champion and the YouTube streamer garnered a ton of attention, owing not only to the massive prize money but also that this was one of the most unexpected collaborations yet. The race was also entertaining as it went down to the wire, but Lyles edged Speed for that $100,000, which he promised to donate to the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation. 

While the 50m dash was a sight to behold, it also caught the attention of Hunter Woodhall. The Paralympian, though, provided an insight into the harsh reality of the sport, mentioning that the earnings of the Olympic champion were almost around the amount he received from MrBeast. Hunter pointed out Lyles’ World Indoor Championship ($30k), World Outdoor Championship ($50k), and Olympic Games ($50k), alongside Team USA’s $87.5k winnings, which were to be noted, as these are international track and field events.

The athlete participated in all of them and, when combined, earned a bit more than what he received in a single day from MrBeast, which in comparison shows how the sport needs to get more finance for their runners. Apart from the monetary factor that Hunter mentioned, when it comes to Justin Gatlin, he was glad that such kind of events were taking place, as he mentioned on his Ready Set Go podcast. 

“At the end of the day, this was a win for track and field. Why? And this was a win for Noah. Why? Because, like you said, it was a charity run, for one, he got half of the charity. He got a $100k,” said the retired four-time world champion. He knew how crucial this race was for the popularity of the sport, and it showed that the purse needs to be much higher for the athletes in professional events.

Talking about track meets Rodney Green, the co-host of the podcast, was intrigued by the fact that the Diamond League would be increasing their purse and if they could go near somewhere around this charity event. However, Gatlin immediately had a different response, stating, “I guarantee you ain’t gonna be no six figures. It ain’t gonna be $100k.”

Furthermore, the track legend was glad that the sport is getting a lot of attention with such kinds of events, which will be bringing in newer fans, such as YouTubers like IShowSpeed, and MrBeast has a ton of them on their respective channels. Gatlin was also impressed by the streamer’s athleticism but mentioned a unique detail that made it easier for him against Lyles in the 50m dash.

Track legend’s opinion on IShowSpeed’s pace against Noah Lyles

Justin Gatlin has seen many sprinters in his career, as he covers all things happening in the sport on his podcast. However, watching the friendly bout between Speed and Lyles was a one-of-a-kind experience for him, too. Furthermore, he pointed out that he noticed a lot of people praising speed for giving a tough challenge to the Olympic champion on the track, which made him discuss an intriguing detail.

The retired four-time world champion stated that the sprint between these two happened during the off-season in the sport. And during this time, athletes like Lyles are nowhere near the peak form that they often display in events like the World Championships or the Olympic Games. As per him, if the American runner and the YouTuber had participated in this similar bout a few months ago, the results would’ve been way different, and it would’ve been an easy win for Lyles, no matter what kind of pace Speed has under his sleeves.