‘It’s at all times going to be me’: Noah Lyles defends quickest man in world declare

Noah Lyles needs to transcend sprinting. And he’s entered the Paris Olympics exuding confidence – and courting controversy.

In his first public feedback in Paris, the double reigning world dash champion defended his declare that he’s the “quickest man on the planet”.

“It’s me,” Lyles stated in a press convention on Monday. “It’s at all times going to be me.”

Lyles was criticized for tagging himself with the moniker after Staff USA posted a video to its social channels over the weekend. Talking from the opening ceremony on the River Seine, the 27-year-old Lyles turned to the digicam and stated: “What’s up, Staff USA? That is Noah Lyles, quickest man on the planet, and we’re out right here in Paris on the point of go on our tour of the world, introducing America to the Olympics.”

The remark drew pushback from the sprinting group, given Lyles’ quickest 100m time of the yr (9.81 seconds) falls wanting that posted by Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson (9.77). Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala has additionally clocked in with a faster time in 2024, operating a 9.79 in June – a faster time than Lyles has ever run.

However Lyles says the “quickest” tag belongs to title holders, not the stopwatch. “I wish to handle the feedback surrounding the ‘quickest man’ title,” Lyles stated in a video posted on YouTube. “The titles ‘quickest man’ and ‘quickest lady’ are awarded yearly to the winners of the 100m on the world championships. I gained the boys’s 100m on the 2023 world championships, and Sha’Carri [Richardson] gained the ladies’s.

“We don’t intend to disrespect or discredit previous data or occasions set within the new season. That is merely how the title is set. If one other male or feminine wins the 100m at this yr’s world championships, they are going to assume the title. I hope this clarifies the matter for many who had questions.”

Three-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who gained the 200m gold on the 1996 Olympics, says the title is a matter of opinion.

“Some information,” Johnson wrote on X. “Usain is quickest ever. PERIOD. Noah is world champion. PERIOD. Marcel is Olympic Champion. PERIOD. Kishane has the quickest time on the planet. PERIOD. Every part else is opinion, and opinions aren’t information!”

Lyles will compete within the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Paris, and he continues to foyer for a spot on the 4x400m relay crew. Finally yr’s world championships in Budapest, Lyles walked away with golds within the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. However has been criticized by Tokyo silver medalist Fred Kerley for campaigning for a spot on the longer-form relay crew.

Kerley accused the US monitor federation of exhibiting favoritism to Lyles, who was a part of the 4x400m crew that gained silver on the indoor world championships in Glasgow. The lineup for the 4x400m relay in Paris has but to be confirmed.

Lyles will kick off his bid for a primary Olympic gold on Saturday, starting with the preliminary rounds of the 100m on the Stade de France. The lads’s 100m closing is on 4 August and the 200m closing is 8 August.