The two authoritative US magazines have come under fire for their descriptions of American track stars Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
American magazines Time and Vogue have come under criticism for terming Noah Lyles the world’s fastest man and Sha’Carri Richardson the world record holder respectively.
In their latest issue, the two authoritative magazines have the athletics superstars on their cover, seeking to leverage on their popularity ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
However, it is their description of the track stars that has drawn the ire of athletics fans who feel the information is misleading.
13:34 - 09.07.2024
[WATCH] Noah Lyles and Jamaican girlfriend Junelle Bromfield display their rap & dance skills
Noah Lyles and his Jamaican girlfriend Junelle Bromfield showed how multitalented they are by rapping and dancing to viral TikTok challenge #glorilla during their Olympics training.
“The world’s fastest man Noah Lyles is bringing his speed to the Games,” reads the cover of Time magazine with a photo of Lyles who appears ready to take off.
Fans have taken issue with the description of Lyles as “world’s fastest man” given the title belongs to Jamaican great Usain Bolt whose world record of 9.58 seconds is yet to be broken since 2009.
Lyles may be the world champion but has not come close to breaking the 15-year world record with his personal best over the distance standing at 9.80 seconds.
He, however, has a chance to lower the world record at the Paris Olympics where he is seen as favourite for gold.
Meanwhile, Vogue has a photo of Richardson in a similar pose with the cover written, “I’m back, I’m better,” the world 100m champion’s signature phrase.
However, it is the description of their online issue that has left athletics fans unimpressed.
16:07 - 07.07.2024
Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles are bookies favourites to win 100m gold at Paris Olympics
What are the odds of the Olympic 100m gold medallists in Paris? Well, bookies have favoured Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles.
“For track and field fans, the 100-meter sprint goes by in a burst, just seconds and it is over. But for Olympics star and world record-holder Sha’Carri Richardson, the path to the starting blocks is a long one,” reads the description.
Richards holds the collegiate record of 10.75 seconds but the world record of 10.49 seconds set by the late American Florence Griffith-Joyner (Flo-Jo) in July 1988 is yet to be broken.
Like Lyles, Richardson, whose personal best stands at 10.57, has the chance to make history at the Paris Games where she is the leading contender for the 100m gold.