American sprint star Noah Lyles, the world’s fastest man over 100 metres from Paris 2024, isn’t shying away from challenges during the track and field off-season. On Wednesday, Lyles shared a video to social media of himself racing popular YouTube streamer IShowSpeed (real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) in a 50-metre dash with a hefty USD $100,000 prize at stake.
Kai Cenat and DDG couldn’t believe how close Speed was to beating Noah Lyles in a race! pic.twitter.com/KrHPm4olR6
— For Your Entertainment (@fyetertainment) November 7, 2024
Despite IShowSpeed getting a jump on Lyles at the start, the Olympic champion got him in the final few metres in what turned out to be a surprisingly close race. The match-up between Lyles and IShowSpeed is part of an upcoming YouTube video series from creator MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), debuting on Nov. 30. The series will showcase a lineup of high-profile athletes racing against Internet celebrities.
Although Lyles, a six-time world championship medallist, was the heavy favourite (obviously), the YouTube star gave him a good run for the money. Lyles announced he’d be donating the $100,000 prize to charity. The livestream attracted more than 220,000 viewers, watching IShowSpeed claim it as a “draw.” Lyles laughed it off, pointing out that he eased up at the end.
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The 19-year-old streamer was a sprinter in high school and has previously squared off in races against soccer stars, which probably built up his confidence to challenge Lyles. After the race, Lyles offered Speed a challenge: “You should practise with me, and at the end of the week, we’ll race again. You’ll be faster, you’ll know what to do, you’ll have the techniques—you’ll have the advantage.”
IShowSpeed isn’t the only celebrity calling out Lyles. NFL wide receiver Tyreek Hill, known as “Cheetah” on the football field, has also thrown some shade toward the U.S. Olympic star: “I wouldn’t beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles.”
This upcoming showdown between Lyles and Hill will reportedly be featured on Super Serious on Sight, a new competition series from actor and America’s Got Talent host Terry Crews. The show, a knockout-style tournament featuring Olympic sprinters and pro athletes, promises high-stakes matchups and is co-founded by Crews. Though no official date has been set for the Lyles-Hill race, it’s expected to take place after the 2024 NFL season and before the start of the 2025 track season.
