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Justin Gatlin has backed countryman Noah Lyles over his controversial trashing of the 200 meter race after claiming 'no one cares' about the event.
Olympic champion Noah Lyles sparked debate over his claim that the 200 meters doesn't hold the same prestige as the 100 meters.
Lyles, who had a stellar campaign at the Paris Olympics in August, made the remarks during a November interview with LetsRun.
Lyles’ position stems from his experience in the sport and the public’s perception of track events. Reflecting on his journey, he explained, “100-meter champion. Do you want your 100? Nobody cares about the 200. I learned that very quickly after breaking the American record and losing Mondo [Duplantis] for athlete of the year. I was just like, they don't care.”
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08:00 - 29.11.2024
'Nobody cares about it'- Olympic champion Noah Lyles trashes 'favorite' 200m event in shocking remarks about sprinting’s future
Noah Lyles sparks controversy, dismissing the 200m’s importance, favoring the 100m as the ultimate sprinting achievement.
The debate comes after Lyles claimed his first Olympic gold in the 100m in a career-best 9.784 seconds, narrowly edging Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a thrilling photo finish. The race was historic, as it marked the first time seven sprinters ran sub-9.90 in a wind-legal final.
Lyles’ victory ended a 20-year gold medal drought for the US in the 100m, dating back to Gatlin’s triumph at the 2004 Athens Games. His achievement further cemented the 100m’s reputation as the ultimate sprinting event.
Despite years of dominance in the 200m, where he claimed multiple world titles and set the American record, Lyles is now turning his attention to the shorter sprint. His bronze medal performance in the 200m final in Paris—clocking 19.70 seconds—fell short of his usual high standards, with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo taking gold in 19.46 seconds and Kenny Bednarek claiming silver in 19.62 seconds.
Reflecting on the shift in focus, Lyles remarked, “They don’t care about the 200. I mean, it’s fun to watch, but at the end of the day, nobody—non-track and field athletes—don’t care about the 200. It’s the 100.”
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10:01 - 13.12.2024
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Lyles highlighted Usain Bolt’s strategic decision to prioritize the 100m during the latter stages of his career. “That’s why when Bolt was winding down, he stuck to the 100,” Lyles explained. “Because the 200 wasn’t gonna get him extra dough. Everybody wants to be known as the fastest man in the world.”
Justin Gatlin, speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, echoed Lyles’ sentiments, offering an insightful perspective on the star sprinter’s journey. “Noah gave Tebogo his props in that interview. He actually impressively listed Tebogo’s latest achievements, which made me impressed because you are watching your opponents,” Gatlin said.
Gatlin attributed Lyles’ shifting mindset to the experience of winning the 100m at the Olympics. “I think he got a taste of what it’s like to be the fastest man. To win the Olympics and see what the attention is like compared to winning the championships and not getting the same attention.”
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11:30 - 14.12.2024
'You need luck' - Grant Holloway on why it is crucial for athletes as he cites Noah Lyles' narrow 100m win over Kishane Thompson
Grant Holloway believes 'luck' evaded him at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, which cost him the gold, while teasing Noah Lyles for being on the right side of fate when he narrowly edged out Kishane Thompson to clinch 100-meter gold in Paris.
He also pointed out that Lyles’ frustration likely stems from the disparity in recognition. “He broke Michael Johnson’s American record and didn’t get athlete of the year because Mondo [Duplantis] did. That’s when he felt the 100 was more important than the 200 because of that situation.”
While fans have accused Lyles of being “salty” over his loss in the 200m to Tebogo, Gatlin’s defense emphasizes the deeper insights behind Lyles’ comments. The 100m has long been celebrated as the marquee event of track and field, and Lyles’ achievements in Paris have only underscored its significance.
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