Now we all know that Noah Lyles isn’t one to take disses hands down. So when one of his many rivals raised some shade on the Olympian, Lyles was quick to clap back. Since then, the back-and-forth between the two has gone on to reach new heights. And guess what, the fans are loving each moment. Now you must be wondering who this rival is. Well, if you guessed Fred Kerley, then kudos to you. But while Kerley has been talking big, things just don’t look to go down anytime soon. Not that Lyles wants that. In fact, he is eager to say his version.

And he is not afraid to put a reminder through both fans and Kerley. That reminder came fast and sharp. Fresh off a 100m bronze at Paris 2024, Kerley stirred the pot by claiming Lyles is “not on my level,” citing his mental toughness as the key difference. Bold? Absolutely. But Lyles? He clapped back hard, drawing a line between hype and hardware. Let’s just say the track isn’t the only place they’re going head-to-head.

The Track and Field Gazette posted a short video of the podcast from ‘Beyond the Records Podcast, in which Noah is talking about Fred Kerley and how things are getting intense with each passing day. The caption reads, “I got the Olympic GOLD—Noah Lyles 🇺🇸 replies to Fred Kerley’s ‘He’s not built like me” comments on his podcast.” 

Noah Lyles isn’t one to shy away from speaking his truth, and his recent response to Fred Kerley proves just that. After Kerley claimed that Lyles is “not on his level,” the reigning Olympic 100m champion clapped back with a personal truth. “I never went through that just as much as he never was staying up in the hospital every night with asthma, wondering if he’s going to be breathing the next morning,” Lyles shared.

His point? Every athlete has their struggle, and mental toughness comes in many forms. But Lyles didn’t stop there—he made it clear that credentials speak louder than claims. “So, yeah, I’m not built like you. You’re not built like me. I’m perfectly fine with that because I got the Olympic gold,” he said, referencing his gold medal win in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It was a historic victory, making Lyles only the second American since 2004 to win Olympic gold in the event, joining the likes of Justin Gatlin. Meanwhile, Kerley—despite his impressive resume, including a silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and a 100m world title in 2022—settled for bronze in Paris. Lyles’ words weren’t just defensive; they were factual. And let’s be honest, in reality, the rivalry isn’t so much there as Kerley is simply at odds with Lyles.

Lyles, meanwhile, doesn’t get flattered by the constant chatter around his name—he shrugs it off with ease. “Before 2023, conversations were, ‘I want to be the best.’ Now, every conversation is, ‘Yeah, I’m better than Noah.’ … I’m not even in the room. And yet I’m living rent-free in people’s minds,” he said. It’s a sharp observation that underscores how dominant Lyles has become in track and field.

His triple gold haul at the 2023 World Championships (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) cemented him as a sprinting powerhouse. And while Kerley continues to assert his confidence, Lyles welcomes it with a smirk. “If he didn’t believe that, he’d be pretty boring to compete against,” he added. In short, the rivalry is real, but Lyles is still very much in control of the narrative.

Fans back Noah Lyles after a fiery clapback at Fred Kerley

The relationship between Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley has hit a boiling point, and track and field fans are not holding back. Let’s just say they’re siding with the man holding the gold. One user summed it up perfectly: “I got Olympic gold—there’s honestly no discussion after that.” It’s hard to argue with Lyles’ resume. After clinching triple gold at the 2023 World Championships and following it up with a historic 100m gold at Paris 2024, the sprinter isn’t just talking—he’s delivering.

That Olympic title, something Kerley’s still chasing, serves as a mic-drop moment in this ongoing rivalry. Fans echoed that sentiment, with another adding, “Damn, that was a very great response from Noah.” But while many applauded Lyles’ poise and power, some weren’t buying the sudden mention of his childhood battle with asthma.

One comment read, “Why are we just finding out about this asthma now… give it a break, man.” Still, others pointed out that every athlete’s story is different, and Lyles’ journey only adds depth to his dominance. “I like athletes being confident and competitive tbh, but Noah is built like you, Fred,” one fan quipped, turning Kerley’s words back on him.

Even among track insiders and close-knit athletes, opinions seem split. One viewer observed, “Rai and Grant know he’s right, but Fred is their homie.” The loyalty is real, but so is the scoreboard. And while some skeptics are still holding out—“Need him to talk after he runs sub-9.8 three times in one month”—most agree that for now, Lyles has earned the right to speak his truth.

With the Olympics right around the corner and rivalries boiling over, one thing’s for sure—Noah Lyles isn’t just stacking medals. He’s owning the spotlight, winning fans, and playing the mental game like a pro. As for Fred Kerley? The ball’s in his court now—not just to talk the talk, but to back it up on the track.