Olympic Champion Noah Lyles Has Been Confirmed for a One-on-One Competition Against NFL Star Tyreek Hill
For what feels like an eternity now, it's been a classic showdown akin to old Hollywood, with the stakes continuously escalating for Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill. Now, it's been made official!
Lyles, a 27-year-old Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion in the 100 meters, will face off against Hill, a 30-year-old former Super Bowl champion and five-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver. This thrilling duel will take place at an as-yet-unnamed distance, as reported by People last Thursday.
"This has been an ongoing thing for quite some time now," Hill shared with People. "I’ve been very adamant to show people what real, true speed looks like."
When Will This Epic Showdown Occur?
The jaw-dropping event is rumored to take place in the spring or summer before the U.S. Outdoor Championships in July.
Just weeks ago, Lyles – the undisputed holder of the title "World's Fastest Man" following his impressive 9.79-second 100-meter dash victory – displayed a sign after his 60-meter dash triumph at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix that read, "Tyreek Could Never."
Lyles, who graced the screens of Netflix viewers in the first two seasons of "Sprint," posted a stunning 6.52-second time in the indoor race, currently ranking eighth in the world.
The playful banter between these two powerhouses has been going strong for months, if not years. What fans have been waiting for finally seems to be coming to fruition.
Perhaps the feud officially commenced in 2023, at a press conference for the World Championships in Budapest. Lyles questioned the legitimacy of professional athletes who earn domestic titles, saying, "World Champions of what?" The provocative remark garnered global attention and solidified Lyles as the subject of criticism from several professional athletes. Yet finishing first in the 100-meter global championship in Budapest in 9.83 seconds didn't silence his critics.
In August, fresh off an Olympic gold in Paris at 100 meters, Hill challenged Lyles to a 50-yard race, but Lyles politely declined, forgetting Hill's name during an interview. Later, in November, Lyles went head-to-head against YouTube sensation "IShowSpeed" and emerged victorious.
"Everybody says that they’re gonna be the world’s fastest, but when it comes down to it, you gotta be the winner every time, each and every time, and every time I show up in the biggest moments, I win," Lyles confided to People.
Shaking Up the World of Track and Field
This storied confrontation comes at a pivotal time for track and field athletes.
Lyles, surprisingly, did not make the initial professional roster announcements for Grand Slam Track, a newly designed league launched by Olympic legend Michael Johnson with the aim of rejuvenating the sport. However, Lyles has partnered with Terry Crews' Super Serious production company to produce an elimination-style tournament featuring Olympic and professional athletes, tying in with Duael, a new track league that's set to debut in 2025.
Is Tyreek Hill's Challenging Lyles a Sensible Move?
They say rivalries can make or break athletes, and in this case, the stakes are high. Hill, a former high school star from Georgia and collegiate sprinter with exceptional abilities, clocked a time of 20.14 seconds for 200 meters as a teen, though his skillset wasn't competitive at a professional level.
Since hitting the collegiate scene at Oklahoma State, Hill ran a time of 20.57 for 200 meters, winning a Big 12 championship and finishing as an All-American at nationals.
Will This Race Between Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill Be Closely Contested?
Some may argue that Hill has the power to shock the world, but Lyles' track record—from setting a high school national record of 20.09 for 200 meters in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016 as a high school senior to his first Diamond League and World Championship titles in 2017 and 2019, respectively—clearly favors him.
But what about Hill's recent comeback attempt, registering for an indoor race in Louisville in March through USATF's Masters division and finishing in a dismal 6.70 seconds? Hill seemed optimistic, telling People, "got to do this for the guys that play my sport" and "we can come and take over your sport at any moment if we wanted to."
Only time will tell who emerges victorious in this epic showdown between two of the fastest athletes to ever lace up their sneakers.
This duel between Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill, two formidable athletes, is set to take place in the spring or summer before the U.S. Outdoor Championships in July, according to rumors. Hill, a five-time NFL All-Pro and former Super Bowl champion, will challenge Lyles, a six-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters. This upcoming event is expected to shake up the world of track and field.
In 2023, their feud seemingly began at a World Championships press conference, where Lyles questioned the legitimacy of athletes who only earn domestic titles. Despite Hill's challenge to a 50-yard race in August and Lyles' win against a YouTube sensation in November, the official confrontation between these two speedsters has yet to occur.
The announced duel between Hill and Lyles will be an unique event, as Hill is stepping out of his NFL domain to challenge Lyles in the world of track and field. Lyles, who has displayed impressive times in both indoor and outdoor races, will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent for Hill, who has a background in high school and collegiate sprinting.
USA Track and Field (USATF) has been involved in this upcoming event, as Hill registered for an indoor race in March through USATF's Masters division. Hill's determination to compete against Lyles, despite his disappointing performance in the Masters division, shows his commitment to challenging Lyles and making a statement in the world of track and field.
As the event approaches in 2025, fans and critics alike are eager to see who will emerge victorious in this epic showdown between two of the fastest athletes of their time.
