Olympic sprinter Noah Lyles recently fulfilled his lifelong dream by winning gold at the Paris Summer Games, officially claiming the title of the fastest man in the world. However, his triumph has sparked a challenge from an unexpected rival—Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who believes he has what it takes to outpace the Olympic champion.
On Sunday, August 18, Hill, who has long been known for his incredible speed on the football field, reignited the debate by doubling down on his earlier claims that he could beat Lyles in a race. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), the 30-year-old NFL star issued a direct challenge to Lyles, writing, “Sign the contract and lock in that 50 yard race.”
This wasn’t the first time Hill had thrown down the gauntlet. Just a week earlier, during an interview with Up & Adams on August 12, Hill confidently declared, “I would beat Noah Lyles [in a race]. I wouldn’t beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles.” The bold statement quickly gained attention, especially as Hill questioned whether Lyles was truly at his best during the Tokyo Olympics, where the sprinter won a bronze medal in the men’s 200m race after battling COVID-19. Hill’s remarks suggested that Lyles might not have been fully fit, casting doubt on the significance of his victory.
Lyles, now 27, finally responded to Hill’s challenge during an appearance on the Nightcap podcast on Sunday. While acknowledging the challenge, Lyles expressed skepticism about Hill’s seriousness. “He’s challenging me to race in the 100? We can race,” Lyles said. “If he’s serious about it, if he’s truly serious about it—I’m not talking about, you’re just talking on the internet and you ain’t actually coming to me and talking to my agent and saying let’s set something up—if you’re serious about it, you’ll see me on the track.”
RELATED: Noah Lyles Calls Out Tyreek Hill for Clout Chasing Instead of Racing the World’s Fastest Man
Lyles’s response seemed to spur Hill on, prompting the football star to reiterate his desire to race, urging Lyles to “lock in” the event. Whether this much-hyped showdown will actually happen remains to be seen, but it has certainly captured the imagination of fans across both sports.
Noah Lyles’s claim to the title of the fastest man in the world was solidified on August 4 when he won the 100m dash at Paris’s Stade de France, crossing the finish line with an impressive time of 9.784 seconds. However, his journey in Paris wasn’t without challenges. Just days later, as he prepared to compete in the men’s 200m final on August 8, Lyles tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite battling fatigue, chills, and the need to manage his asthma to prevent a more serious respiratory issue, Lyles pushed through to claim a bronze medal in the 200m race.
In an interview back on August 11, Lyles reflected on his experience, noting that he’s finally feeling “a lot better” after the ordeal, though he still struggles with some lingering fatigue. “I was just telling my girlfriend, I’m like, ‘I am so tired,’ and she’s like, ‘Well, you did just win the 100 with COVID, and still not getting as much rest as possible,’” Lyles shared. The sprinter, who has been dating fellow Olympic athlete Junelle Bromfield since 2022, spoke candidly about his determination to compete despite his illness. “As long as I knew that I was allowed to, I was gonna tackle it,” he said, emphasizing his resolve to take on the 200m race despite the physical toll.
Lyles’s grit and determination are qualities that have defined his career, and they will undoubtedly be on full display if he and Tyreek Hill ever meet on the track.
As the world waits to see if the two speedsters will square off, one thing is certain—both athletes are ready to prove who truly deserves the title of the fastest man on the planet.
