Tyreek Hill's challenge to Noah Lyles sparks excitement as a new track league invites Hill to compete in its debut.
American sprint legend Michael Johnson is preparing to launch an exciting new track league Grand Slam Track aiming to transform the sport.
With the inaugural season on the horizon, Johnson has made waves by revealing his desire to see Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill—nicknamed the "Cheetah"—compete in the event.
The 30-year-old Georgia-born star recently sparked a heated conversation among track fans after taking aim at U.S. sprinting star Noah Lyles.
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Hill confidently claimed that he could defeat the reigning Paris Olympics 200m gold medalist Lyles and his remarks quickly ignited a rivalry between the two.
“Noah Lyles can't say nothing after what just happened to him. You know what I'm saying?” Hill said, referring to Lyles' third-place finish in the men’s 200m finals at the Paris Olympics.
“Then he want to come out and pretend like he’s sick. I feel like that’s like horseradish. So, for him to do that and say that we’re not world champions of our sport, like come on, bro, just speak on what you know about, you know what I’m saying? And that’s track. I would beat Noah Lyles. No, I wouldn’t beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles.”
The bold statement has fueled anticipation for a potential matchup between the two with fans eager to see if Hill’s speed on the gridiron could translate to success on the track.
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Now, Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, has added to the buzz by expressing his enthusiasm for Hill to join his newly formed Grand Slam Track league.
“Tyreek Hill. I would actually love to have Tyreek Hill run in the Grand Slam Track event. Cheetah! Yeah,” said Johnson.
Johnson’s Grand Slam Track league aims to elevate the sport by attracting high-profile athletes and introducing a fresh format that will appeal to a global audience.
Inviting a star like Hill could bring additional attention and excitement to the league as the NFL player’s speed is legendary both on and off the football field.
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However, when discussing Hill’s chances of making it to the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team Johnson tempered expectations.
Despite Hill being one of the fastest 40-yard runners in the NFL, Johnson pointed out the complexity of the sprinting discipline at an elite level.
“He knows what his sport is,” Johnson added in a separate interview with Bleachereport.
“That sort of thing picks up steam from other people saying, ‘Oh, he can be in the Olympics.’ Honestly, the sport is much more complex than people think. These guys are all fast and they’re struggling to pick up the concept of a simple start position.”
Johnson emphasized that while Hill may be fast, sprinting at the Olympic level requires years of training and technical precision that cannot be overlooked.
“Simple to me. Not simple for them. Just like if I went in and tried to be a running back. It looks simple, just take the ball and avoid the defense. It looks simple. It’s not simple."