Noah Lyles has sparked controversy once again after making comments about who deserves the title of the world’s fastest female athlete. The Olympic 100m champion stated that world champion Sha’Carri Richardson does not hold that title, but rather, it belongs to Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred.
Lyles has long been vocal about his own status as the fastest man in the world, a claim that has drawn mixed reactions from fans. Some argue that the title should be awarded to the athlete with the fastest time of the year, while others believe it belongs to the world record holder. Now, his latest remarks have extended that debate to the women’s category, putting Richardson and Alfred at the center of the discussion.
Richardson, who entered the 2024 Paris Olympics as the reigning world champion, was widely considered the favorite in the women’s 100m final. However, St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred stunned the field by winning gold in 10.72 seconds, while Richardson had to settle for silver with a time of 10.87 seconds.
Despite this, Richardson still recorded the fastest time of the year, having run 10.71 seconds earlier in the season. In terms of all-time performances, her personal best of 10.65 seconds, set at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, remains faster than Alfred’s Olympic-winning time.
Lyles’ comments downplaying Richardson’s status did not sit well with many track and field fans, who quickly took to social media to call him out. Some pointed out that the title of “fastest” should be determined by the best time recorded, not necessarily by Olympic placement.
One fan noted that “until Julien or Lyles run faster times than Sha’Carri, they aren’t the fastest.” Another added that Lyles’ remarks were “petty” and seemed motivated by jealousy over Richardson’s popularity in the sport.
Others accused him of being unnecessarily critical of fellow American athletes, with one comment stating, “You’d never see an African or Jamaican go against their own country like Noah. This is just dumb.”
Some fans also pointed out that while Alfred deserved recognition for her Olympic victory, Richardson’s overall dominance throughout the season and her superior times could not be ignored. One fan highlighted that “Richardson beat Alfred multiple times and even won their next race after the Olympics.”
Lyles’ comments have only reignited the debate about how to define the fastest athlete. While Olympic gold medals carry immense prestige, raw speed is often measured by the best times recorded in a season or across a career. For now, Richardson holds a superior personal best and had the fastest time in 2024, but Alfred claimed the biggest prize by winning Olympic gold.
With the 2025 World Championships set to take place in Tokyo in September, Richardson will have another opportunity to prove herself on the global stage. The showdown between her and Alfred is highly anticipated, and fans will be eager to see if Richardson can reclaim her dominance or if Alfred will continue her rise as the sport’s top sprinter.
The debate over the world’s fastest woman is far from settled, and Lyles’ remarks have only added more fuel to the fire.
