Noah Lyles wants to keep “track relevant” beyond Olympics by racing Tyreek Hill

Noah Lyles, Olympic champion, is preparing for yet another duel to consolidate his position as the fastest man alive. Lyles, a sprinter, shares the common concern of athletics—finding it hard to remain relevant outside of the Olympics and World Championships.

For months, Lyles and Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill have exchanged barbs and playful jabs, teasing the possibility of a head-to-head race between them. The anticipation became reality earlier this month as both athletes officially agreed to face off.

In an interview with NBC News, Lyles admitted that he is taking the race seriously and expressed that he will give his best to defeat the Dolphins player.

Lyles, 27, bagged gold in Paris with a thrilling finish in the 100 meters, edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a fraction of a second. Just over a week later, Hill, widely regarded as the fastest receiver in the NFL, was asked on a podcast if he could beat Lyles in a race. Without hesitation, he said yes.

Since then, the friendly feud has escalated. After winning the 60-meter race at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on February 2, Lyles held up a sign that read: “Tyreek could never.” It was a clear message to his NFL counterpart, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

The two finally spoke after the Indoor Grand Prix, and according to Lyles, their conversations made one thing clear: this race isn’t just for show. Tyreek Hill has fired back with confidence of his own. Speaking to NBC Sports in February, the Dolphins star insisted that Lyles “should be scared” of him in a 40-yard dash.

The final details including distance and location are still being ironed out. Lyles has floated the idea of a 60-meter sprint in New York City’s Times Square, with summer being the likely timeframe. That would place it right in the middle of Lyles’ training for the U.S. championships and just before Hill gears up for the NFL season.

Tyreek Hill duel is more than a friendly bragging rights competition

The race has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. Some critics argue that an Olympic champion has little to gain from racing an NFL player, calling it a “huge mistake.” However, for Lyles, the event is about an opportunity to elevate track and field outside of its Olympic spotlight.

He acknowledges the skeptics who question why he’s accepting the challenge but remains unfazed.

Lyles has never shied away from the spotlight. Although there hasn’t been any assurances from any big governing bodies, the hype keeps on building.

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