Fred Kerley Opens Up on Noah Lyles Rivalry in US Sprint Scene

Fred Kerley gets real about intense rivalry among US sprinters Image source: Imago

Fred Kerley Opens Up on Noah Lyles Rivalry in US Sprint Scene

Abigael Wafula 16:44 - 09.04.2025

Fred Kerley has revealed that behind the scenes, American sprinters are more rivals than teammates, calling the sport an individual battle.

Reigning Olympic 100m bronze medallist Fred Kerley has described the heated rivalry among American sprinters.

Fred Kerley explained that they only work together when need be and that is always during relay competitions but after that, everyone minds their own business.

The former world champion added that track and field is not like the NFL or basketball and noted that it is difficult for athletes to have genuine friends in the sport.

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One incident stood out when Masai Russell and Alaysha Johnson made it to the women’s 100m hurdles and the latter sadly hit a hurdle and missed the podium bracket.

Masai Russell revealed that she did not console her since they are not friends and once they step on the track, it is usually a case of ‘everyone for himself and God for us all.’

“Track is an individual sport, it doesn’t work, this is a Grammy game. We are only teammates on the 4x400m or 4x100m, we aren’t teammates in any individual race and probably we are not even warming up together,” Fred Kerley shared on the Pivot podcast.

“We are enemies against each other and we all represent the United States. That's not only for our countries that's for most of every country it's an individual success this is not team success.

“My medal is my medal, I'm not giving you my gold medal. Like if we own a 4x1 and 4x4. That's a team individual is individual.”

Fred Kerley on the rivalry at the Paris Olympic Games

Fred Kerley on the rivalry at the Paris Olympic Games
Fred Kerley on the rivalry at the Paris Olympic Games

Fred Kerley explained that while at the Paris Olympic Games, he only got to see Noah Lyles twice, aside from the competition.

Kerley claimed that even at the warm-up area, they do not work as a team, adding that it is on the track and on TV that things are displayed differently to the fans.

He revealed that they have different contracts and are working with different sponsors hence when lining up, everyone knows what is at stake at the end of the day and making money is what matters the most for them.

“My coach is here and their coach is there so we not warming up at the same time. I think I saw Noah probably like once or twice and that is probably at the open ceremony and probably the party,” Fred Kerley added.

“Everybody is really enemies you know what I'm saying, like we are all only going there for one thing.”

The rivalry between American male sprinters continues to be seen and felt on the global stage with the trash-talking and the intense competition among each other during the Olympic and World Championships trials.

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