I don’t have a rival – Noah Lyles insists more factors are needed in sustaining track and field than just surface stories
American track star Noah Lyles opened up on rivalries, Kenny Bednarek’s viral shove, and chasing the legendary Usain Bolt’s legacy.
Reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lylesbelieves he currently has no true rival in the sport, insistig more factors are needed to sustain track and field than just surface stories with no depth.
This declaration came even after the viral ‘shove’ incident with fellow U.S. sprinter Kenny Bednarek and losing his 100m world title to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville at the World Championships in Tokyo.
The altercation occurred at the US track championships in August, where Bednarek shoved Lyles after the 200m final. The confrontation, which quickly gained traction on social media, stemmed from Lyles staring down Bednarek as they crossed the finish line.
While Lyles now admits his actions were more aggressive than simple gamesmanship, he maintains Bednarek’s physical response was out of line.
“That was pure assault,” Lyles stated in a recent interview, emphasizing the shove was unwarranted.
Drawing a parallel to the WWE, a sport he recently attended the Friday SmackDown, Lyles suggested the situation would have been different if there had been a pre-arranged agreement for such theatrics.
The eight-time world champion believes that while animosity can fuel a rivalry, it isn’t the sole ingredient. For Lyles, a true rivalry requires consistent, high-stakes competition where both athletes trade victories.
He also pointed to a structural issue within track and field, arguing that the sport needs better organization to ensure top athletes compete against each other more frequently. This, he feels, is essential for building compelling and consistent matchups.
Although Lyles and Bednarek faced off again at the World Championships in Tokyo after their altercation, where he was victorious again by winning his fourth consecutive 200m world title to become only the second man in history to achieve such a feat after Usain Bolt, the controversial sprint star dismissed the idea that the prior incident provided extra motivation.
