'Do you want them to succeed or not?'- Noah Lyles slams 'toxic' criticism from American fans

'Do you want them to succeed or not?'- Noah Lyles slams 'toxic' criticism from American fans

Festus Chuma 15:00 - 16.07.2024

Noah Lyles addresses the harsh criticism from American fans as he prepares for the Olympic sprint double in Paris.

World 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles has voiced his concerns over the harsh criticism and negativity U.S. athletes face from their own fans, particularly on social media.

Lyles has found himself at the center of a renewed rivalry between the USA and Jamaica as the Paris 2024 Olympics approaches.

However, the sprinter seems more troubled by the internal feedback coming from his homeland than by his competitors.

Lyles distress was evident during a recent appearance on the 'Track World News' podcast, where he expressed disbelief at the negative reactions from American fans.

"I was more shocked of, I don't know...the toxicity from the U.S. on their own people!" Lyles said as quoted by Marca.

The comment came after he observed social media reactions to Rai Benjamin’s post about 'SPRINT', a Netflix docuseries featuring Lyles, which had received mixed reviews.

Many fans described Lyles' attitude in the series as unlikable, which sparked a broader discussion about the support—or lack thereof—that U.S. athletes receive.

"Do you all want them to succeed or not want them to succeed," Lyles pointedly asked.

Lyles recently made a strategic decision to pull out of the Wanda Diamond League competition in Monaco to concentrate on training.

"I'm sorry to announce that I've withdrawn from this Friday's Meeting Herculis EBS in Monaco.

The meet is one of my favorites to compete in, and Monaco is one of my favorite places that my career has taken me to," he said before last weekend's event.

The 26-year-old's commitment to excel at the upcoming Olympics is clear as he mentioned the satisfaction with the outcomes of the US Olympic Trials in Eugene.

"My coach, my entire team and I are very pleased with what we were able to achieve at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, however, in order to put myself in the best possible position to succeed in Paris, we have decided to spend an extra week at our training base in Florida before traveling to Europe," Lyles explained.

Despite his frustrations Lyles is focused on his goal of achieving the Olympic sprint double in Paris.

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