Noah Lyles Left Disregarded by Fans After Justin Gatlin Makes Surprising Usain Bolt Comparison

The world of track and field is all about speed, swagger, and those epic debates that get fans yelling at their screens! And for the last few years, there has been one man at the forefront of it all. Care to guess who? Well, it is the self-proclaimed Fastest Man on the Planet, Noah Lyles. But despite all his Olympic accolades and his glory at the World Championships, there is this one big shadow that he simply can’t seem to surpass. And it seems one track legend himself feels like he never will.

But can we blame them? After all, when it comes to the Lightning Bolt, Usain Bolt, everyone will probably come up short. Bolt isn’t just fast; he redefined fast. Eight Olympic golds, 11 World Championship medals, and those untouchable world records: 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m. Well, for years, the legendary Justin Gatlin has been crystal clear: nobody touches Bolt’s throne. As he said on his podcast back in 2022, “Bolt’s in a league of his own.”

And most fans agreed. That’s why the track world exploded when Gatlin recently dropped a paradigm shift, suggesting Lyles could join the GOAT conversation. Seriously? How did we get here? Gatlin’s claim came out of nowhere, leaving even the most hardcore track fans stunned. His words, “I think if he goes back and defends his world championship titles from the one, the two, and the 4×1, he’s definitely in the GOAT category.”

Remember, Gatlin himself is no slouch, with a personal best of 9.74 seconds in the 100m. He was putting Lyles, who ran 9.83 seconds for Olympic gold, in the same sentence as Bolt. Lyles’ resume is impressive, no doubt. He dominated at the 2023 World Championships and added a 100m gold and 200m bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But Bolt’s shadow is massive. Gatlin’s apparent change of heart felt like a betrayal to some.

The fan reaction on X was intense. People were not having it. “Lyles is great, but Bolt ran 9.58 and 19.19. Noah’s not even close,” one user posted, echoing the general feeling. Another said, “One Olympic gold doesn’t make you Bolt. Lyles needs a decade of dominance first.” The stats back up the skepticism: Bolt’s 100m record is a whopping 0.25 seconds faster than Lyles’ best, and his 200m record is 0.12 seconds ahead.

“Yeah, there’s no reason for anyone to be talking about anyone other than Bolt being the goat lol,” chimed in another fan, highlighting the firm stance of many. Bolt’s three consecutive Olympic golds in the 100m and 200m from 2008 to 2016 set an insane standard. A few fans defended Lyles, pointing to his style and consistency. “Noah’s 28 and already got a triple at Worlds. Give him time!” they argued.

But most weren’t buying Gatlin’s hype. “He’s building a good case to be in conversation. But I think GOAT status is unattainable for him. He’s fighting for second like everybody else so far,” one user conceded. Still, the majority were clinging to Bolt’s larger-than-life legacy. So, can Lyles ever close that gap? To even be in the GOAT conversation, Lyles has a daunting road ahead.

Defending his 2023 World Championship titles at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo would be a start. He’d need to repeat that triple win. But Bolt was already a double Olympic champion when he set his 200m world record at 26. Lyles, at 28, is playing catch-up. Breaking Bolt’s records seems like a long shot. Even with modern tracks and shoe tech, that gap is huge.

Still, Lyles’s showmanship, his painted nails, and his post-race celebrations give him a shot at cultural impact, just like Bolt. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could be his moment, but will one or even two more golds be enough? “If Noah can double 100m and 200m and win it in 3 straight Olympics, add a few World Records… only then could he be the G.O.A.T,” one fan laid out the impossibly high bar.

But will one or even two more golds be enough? The debate isn’t just about times; it’s about legacy, dominance, and rewriting history. Bolt didn’t just run fast; he made the world stop and watch. Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson set the stage, but Bolt’s global stardom was on another level. Gatlin’s comments, however controversial, highlight Lyles’ potential to change the story.

If he dominates in 2025 and beyond, he could force fans to reconsider. For now, though, those posts tell the truth: fans aren’t ready to crown Lyles. As one user put it, “Bolt was a movement. Lyles is a moment.” Can Lyles turn his moment into a movement at the 2025 World Championships? Or will Bolt’s lightning forever reign supreme?