In the world of track and field, few events are as high-profile and as tightly scrutinized as the competitions between elite sprinters. But recently, a viral race between professional sprinter Noah Lyles and popular YouTuber IShowSpeed (Darren “Speed” Matthews) has captured the attention of fans around the globe—and sparked a few strong opinions from track stars.
Among the most vocal critics is former Olympic sprinter and world champion Justin Gatlin, who weighed in on the race with a biting comment: “Easiest $100,000 Noah Lyles ever got.”
Gatlin’s remark follows a much-talked-about head-to-head between Lyles, a two-time World Champion in the 200 meters, and IShowSpeed, an internet sensation with millions of followers but no experience as a competitive athlete. The race, which was organized as part of a promotional event, quickly turned into a viral sensation—largely due to the vast difference in athletic ability between the two competitors.
The race in question took place after a series of online exchanges between Lyles and IShowSpeed, who had previously boasted that he could beat Lyles in a 100-meter dash. The trash talk on social media built up, culminating in a high-profile race with a reported prize of $100,000 for the winner. Lyles, a sprinter with world-class speed, was the overwhelming favorite, but IShowSpeed, whose fast-talking, brash persona has garnered him a massive online following, was confident that his street-smart hustle could pull off the upset.
On race day, the reality was far different from the hype. Lyles, known for his blistering 100-meter times and his world-class technique, left IShowSpeed in the dust. The race was over almost as soon as it began. Lyles crossed the finish line in a fraction of the time it took the YouTuber, and the disparity in speed was glaringly apparent. While Lyles clocked a near-professional time, Speed’s effort was much more akin to a casual jog than a competitive sprint.
The internet erupted in laughter and disbelief, with fans and media alike commenting on the absurdity of the situation. “I can’t believe IShowSpeed thought he could take on Noah Lyles,” one Twitter user commented. “This was never going to end well for him.”
Justin Gatlin, a former world champion and Olympic medalist known for his speed and experience on the track, took to social media to weigh in on the race. His take was blunt and filled with humor, yet underscored the reality of the situation. “Easiest $100,000 Noah Lyles ever got,” Gatlin tweeted, offering his own brand of sarcastic commentary.
Gatlin, who has had a storied career in track and field, made the point that while IShowSpeed’s bravado and large following may make him a draw for entertainment purposes, there’s a stark difference between a professional athlete and an internet personality. “This was never a race, this was an exhibition,” Gatlin said in a follow-up interview. “We’re talking about a professional sprinter who has spent years honing his craft against someone who doesn’t train for this. It’s a mismatch, plain and simple. Lyles has been running faster than that for years.”
Gatlin also commented on the culture around events like these, which blend internet fame with legitimate sports competition. “It’s all fun and games, but it can’t overshadow the real talent and dedication that goes into being an elite athlete,” Gatlin explained. “It’s fine to have some fun with these exhibition races, but we shouldn’t pretend that it’s on the same level as world-class competition.”
IShowSpeed, for his part, has made no secret of his love for sports and his aspirations to challenge athletes in various disciplines. His larger-than-life personality has fueled much of his online brand, and he quickly embraced the spectacle of racing Lyles. Speed’s online antics are often rooted in exaggeration and comedic hyperbole, but he genuinely seemed to believe he could make a competitive showing against one of the world’s best sprinters.
However, the results were always going to be difficult to overcome. Lyles, who has a personal best of 9.86 seconds in the 100 meters, has spent his entire career refining the explosive start, top-end speed, and conditioning that are necessary to succeed at the highest level of sprinting. On the other hand, IShowSpeed, though quick on his feet in the world of gaming and internet stardom, doesn’t have the years of specialized training in sprint mechanics that would be needed to compete with a sprinter of Lyles’ caliber.
Despite the outcome, Speed has maintained a good-natured attitude about the loss, acknowledging Lyles’ dominance while laughing off the result. “I knew I wasn’t going to win,” Speed admitted in a follow-up video. “But hey, I gave it my all, and we had fun! That’s what it’s all about.” His fans, of course, appreciated the entertainment value, and many of them took to social media to poke fun at the outcome.
While the race itself may have been more about spectacle than competition, it raised an interesting conversation about the crossover between traditional sports and the world of social media influencers. In recent years, athletes like Lyles and other professional track stars have increasingly used their platforms to engage with fans, and this viral event only further blurred the lines between entertainment and elite sport.
For track and field, which often struggles to maintain mainstream visibility outside of the Olympics, such events may be a way to bring in new fans and bring attention to the sport. Lyles, who has already built a strong following on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, embraced the opportunity to engage with a wider audience, even if it meant racing someone who had no chance of winning.
“This is how we grow the sport,” Lyles said in a post-race interview. “I’m all for fun and engaging with my fans in a way that brings them into our world. It’s not about the money or the race; it’s about making track and field more accessible and showing people how exciting it can be.”
For Justin Gatlin, the race serves as a reminder of just how difficult it is to reach the level of success that Lyles has achieved. Despite his retirement from the sport, Gatlin remains a key voice in the track and field world. His remarks about the race highlight a larger issue facing sports like track and field, where mainstream attention can often be fleeting. While Gatlin may have found the race “easy” for Lyles, he also emphasized that true elite athletes work tirelessly to attain their success.
As for the future, it seems likely that the blend of internet fame and competitive sports will continue to grow. Whether it’s more influencer-athlete matchups or athletes using social media to create new, viral moments, events like the Lyles-IShowSpeed race are just a glimpse into a changing landscape for traditional sports. But as Gatlin pointed out, there’s still no substitute for the dedication and skill that goes into being a world-class athlete.
In the end, for Noah Lyles, it was indeed an easy $100,000—but the true value lies in the years of work and commitment he’s invested to get to the top of the track and field world.
