Olympic champion Noah Lyles has opened up about is viral ‘world champion of what comment?’ and how surprising reaction from Canadian rapper Drake.
Olympic sprint champion Noah Lyles has opened up about why his polarizing “world champion of what?” remark went viral despite having voiced the sentiment many times before.
In a recent interview with DCP Entertainment, Lyles revealed that the timing and his newfound global stature played a significant role in the reaction it received.
“That wasn’t the first time I ever said that. I had said it many times in different interviews,” Lyles admitted.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Athletics News in Kenya from Pulse Sports.
How new Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will manage to convince foreign-based players, including dual-citizens like Linton Maina & Djed Spence, to play for Harambee Stars.
However, this particular instance gained traction because of his prominence at the time as the World’s fastest man.
“I was the world’s fastest man at the time, right? Maybe I put a little extra emphasis on it. But that was because of the situation. The question posed was about how it felt to return to the U.S. as a world champion. To be honest, nothing really changes,” he explained.
“That’s the frustrating part—the U.S. doesn’t care the way the rest of the world does, especially compared to Europe. And it’s frustrating because America has an incredible marketing system. If we could tap into that, it would be amazing,” he added.
Lyles had just been crowned world champion in both the 100m and 200m at the 2023 World Championships when he stirred controversy in August by criticizing NBA players for referring to themselves as world champions despite competing solely in the United States.
)
AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has confirmed that the club officially submitted all the paperwork on Tuesday, 5th March 2025, to acquire the land in Kasarani supposed to be used for the building of its stadium.
“Almost every American-made sport taps into this idea that everything we do is the greatest. It makes you believe you’re competing on the world stage, even if you’re not. And they do it so well. But we actually have athletes competing on the world stage all year long—why not market that the same way?” said Lyles.
Reflecting on the backlash, Lyles noted that while his comments sparked debate, they also initiated an important conversation about sports marketing and global recognition.
“It got the conversation started. Outside the U.S., the response was nothing but support. Inside the U.S., it was different. It’s died down now, but at the time, people were saying, ‘This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about,’” he said.
One of the most surprising reactions came from Canadian rapper Drake, whose response caught Lyles off guard.
)
New Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will begin his Kenyan assignment with 2026 World Cup qualifiers this month but which players risk missing out?
“I remember thinking, ‘Drake, what are you doing here?’ It was so random. He said something like, ‘Somebody needs to get this guy’ or ‘This man is crazy, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.’ But that’s what really shocked me—it went beyond sports for a little bit,” Lyles recalled.
Lyles feud with NBA enthusiasts extended into 2024, with many rooting against him at the Paris Olympics.
However, Lyles silenced his doubters by claiming gold in the 100m. Despite an underwhelming third-place finish in the 200m, which left him open to criticism, he remained one of the standout performers of the Games.
Looking ahead, Lyles is preparing to defend his 100m and 200m titles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
)
Usain Bolt has hit back at Michael Johnsn’s claims that the American would have obliterated him had both athletes ever gotten the chance to compete.
With his name now firmly established on the global stage, Lyles continues to push for greater recognition and marketing for track and field athletes worldwide.