'This is not real sport' - Michael Johnson on why showdown between Noah Lyles & Tyreek Hill is  uncompelling

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'This is not real sport' - Michael Johnson on why showdown between Noah Lyles & Tyreek Hill is uncompelling

Abigael Wafula 16:54 - 26.03.2025

Michael Johnson has dismissed the Noah Lyles vs. Tyreek Hill race, arguing that the race between the two is not a real competition.

American sprint legend Michael Johnson has explained why the race between NFL star Tyreek Hill and Olympic champion Noah Lyles will not be beneficial to the sport.

The four-time Olympic champion explained that things have since changed and fans are a step ahead and they cannot be played into believing that the race would be competitive and Tyreek Hill might beat the triple world champion.

Michael Johnson insisted that the fight between boxers Mike Tyson and Jake Paul tried to bring fans together and elevate the sport but failed terribly. He explained that at first, they bought into the idea but the hype faded even before the fight.

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The same applies to Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill’s race as Michael Johnson remains adamant that fans will not be tricked into another fantasy. He added that there is no way Tyreek Hill would beat Noah Lyles if they start the 60m race in the blocks.

Michael Johnson did not rule out the fact that Noah Lyles is unable to do what the Miami Dolphins wide receiver does as an NFL player.

“Let’s go back to Tyson and Paul, they tried to make that some sought of compelling competition and I think that people are beyond that and nobody is going to believe that anymore. We all fell for it,” Michael Johnson said on the Rich Eisen show.

“If it’s a track meet, it it’s a track race, a 100m race, that’s not a race, Tyreek can’t beat the 30th ranked 100m runner in the world.

“A track athlete who is fast on the track can’t run against a wide receiver who runs in routes like Tyreek and touchdown, it just doesn’t happen.”

Michael Johnson added that for it to be interesting and beneficial to the sport, a series of things have to be ironed out.

He explained that sprinting is a profession and not everyone who is fast qualifies to be a sprinter, noting that people need to learn the art of sprinting before downplaying what athletes do on the track.

“If you create some sort of exhibition where you can even it out a little bit because Tyreek is quick, if it’s about quickness then it might be a bit compelling. But come on, we know this is just entertainment. This is not real sport,” Michael Johnson said.

"Just because you run fast, doesn’t mean that you’re a world-class sprinter. Sprinting is different than just being fast, I know what it looks like, the gun goes off and everyone just runs to the finish line but there is a lot that happens. You still have to beat other people.”

Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill are set to face off in a 60m race before the US Championships which are scheduled for July.

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