Noah Lyles was deemed the fastest man in the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics, after he won the men's 100 m race last week with a 9.784 time that beat Jamaican Kishane Thompson by a mere .005 seconds (9.789).
However, he lost his signature 200 m race, by coming in third place behind Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (19.46) and U.S.'s Kenneth Bednarek (19.62), and later afterwards Lyles said that he had COVID which is why he received bronze and not gold.
Noah lyles didn’t have Covid when he won the 100 but suddenly did when he lost the 200 now he’s in the club dancing lmao im crying pic.twitter.com/lsnR8LoVJQ
— John (@iam_johnw) August 12, 2024
That is to say, Tyreek Hill, 30, who has proven himself to be one of the fastest players in the NFL believes he can win against the 27-year-old U.S. track star.
The 2023 league leader in receiving yards, who was recently announced as the #1 NFL player on the top 100 list, made this claim Monday while on the Up & Adams show.
"I would beat Noah Lyles. I would beat Noah Lyles," Hill said. "And when I beat him, I'm going to put on a COVID mask."
This was brought up when "Cheetah" was asked to comment on Lyles' criticisms of saying that NFL and NBA champions shouldn't be called "world champs."
The Dolphins wide receiver said, "Noah Lyles can't say nothing after what just happened to him, for anyone to come out and pretend like he sick, I feel like that's horseradish... So for him to do that and say that we're not world champions of our sport... Come on bruh, just speak on what you know about and that's track."
6x All Pro and SB Champ Tyreek Hill responds to Noah Lyles comments about Super Bowl winners not being "World Champs"... 👀🔊
"Come on bruh, just speak on what you know about and that's track... I would beat Noah Lyles (in a race)." @cheetah @heykayadams @MiamiDolphins… pic.twitter.com/E6zQ9EgEBX
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 12, 2024
To point out, Hill has showcased his speed on the track before, as he was clocked running the 200 m in high school with a time of 20.14 seconds (sixth in the U.S. at the time), which means it would have been fast enough to make the 2012 Olympic team, per Bleacher Report.
Furthermore, Hill also has put up impressive times in other races, with his fastest 100 m time being 10.19. Not to mention, he also won the 60 meter event at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships last year with a time of 6.70.
6️⃣.7️⃣0️⃣ for Tyreek Hill! @cheetah won the men’s 60m at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships 💥#USATF pic.twitter.com/2DVWzoeOqe
— USATF (@usatf) March 11, 2023
All in all, in view of Hill's chances vs. the three-time Olympic medal sprinter Lyles, it may be slim considering that the NFL star has been training for football over the past decade instead of track, but it certainly would be a closer race than some may think.
Fans may get to witness this in the future, as Hill hinted at trying to qualify for the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.
Tyreek Hill to the Olympics in 2028? 👀 pic.twitter.com/3WHfsmloVu
— betr (@betr) August 12, 2024
Related: NBA Players Still Have Not Forgotten U.S. Gold Medal Sprinter Noah Lyles' World Champs' Criticism
