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The weeks after the Olympics are typically a time for reflection. Athletes can look back on successes and near misses before taking the time to plan for their next major tournament or call time on a demanding career.

This year there have been a few headlines that have had tongues wagging across social media. The Australian breaking competitor Rachael RayGun Gunn caused quite a stir with her performances, and the argument has rumbled on with many questioning her suitability to represent her country in this field.

Another post-Olympic headline grabber that keeps rumbling on involves 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles and NFL star Tyreek Hill.

Who Is Tyreek Hill?

Tyreek is the Miami Dolphins wide receiver and is widely regarded as the leagues fastest player. With the NFL season starting soon, the Dolphins are seen as relative outsiders for the Superbowl at around 25/1 but are second favourite behind the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East title.

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Hill has been with the Miami Dolphins since moving from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and comes from a track background. The former sprinters top career speed was clocked at 23.34mph in 2016, and he also recorded a 9.98 second 100m in 2013.

Hill/Lyles Feud

Noah Lyles is no stranger to ruffling a few feathers and caused a stir in 2023 after winning the World Athletics Championship 100m and 200m events. During a press conference, he called out NBA stars for claiming they were world champions despite only competing against other teams in the U.S. and Canada.

Following the U.S. teams gold medal heroics in Paris, Lyles congratulated the team and pointed out that playing Basketball at the Olympics pits them against the rest of the world.

He also caused controversy by questioning Anthony Edwards being awarded a signature sneaker deal with Adidas when he feels he is just as, if not more worthy of one.

The latest controversy was sparked by Tyreek Hills comments on the Up & Adams podcast where he said that Lyles should stick to what he knows, before being asked whether he thought he could beat him in a race.

Hill claimed he would beat the Olympian in a race, he was also critical of Lyless Bronze medal performance in the 200m, saying that his Covid diagnosis sounded like an excuse.

Lyles responded by referring to him as that cheetah guy from football, claiming not to remember his name. 

Noah Lyles Paris Performances

The 2024 Paris Olympics 100m final has been described as the greatest race in history, with only 0.12 seconds separating the 8 finalists. Both Lyle and silver-medalist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica finished in 9.79 seconds, and only a photo finish could separate the two with Lyles edging the race by five-thousandths of a second.

Four days later Lyles came third in the mens 200m final after a positive Covid test two days previously. While Letsile Tebogo celebrated Botswanas first-ever Olympic gold, Lyles was wheeled off the track by medical personnel.

Lyles was forced to drop out of the mens 4x100m relay final where Team USA where disqualified following a disastrous opening handover. 

Will We See a Race Between the Two Athletes?

In an age where YouTube and social media stars are pulling in bigger crowds than official title fights in the boxing world, it is not inconceivable that we might see Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill race one day.

There are just three years between 27-year-old Lyles and 30-year-old Hill, and it would draw a lot of attention from the media world. However, with the NFL season about to start, it is unlikely that Hill would be given permission to take part in such an event.

Hill has nothing to lose by racing the worlds fastest man, and all the pressure would be on Lyles. However, as a gold medal-winning Olympian, it is clear that he is more than up to the task.

An event like this would command huge viewing figures among athletics and football fans, and it could end up being a big event for crypto gambling operators and sportsbooks that price up the race.