‘You let me win the 100? Naah!’ - Noah Lyles sparks controversy with category claim

Noah Lyles reacted to his 100m victory in Budapest two months ago, appearing to aim a subtle dig at his fellow finalists.

American sprint sensation Noah Lyles has described his debut 100 meters World Championship win as “amazing” as the 26-year-old reacted to his Budapest dominance on Monday.

Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Lyles was reminiscing on his victory in Budapest, reacting to every moment from the walkout to the victory lap he made afterwards.

Lyles went on to make a bold claim that they let him win the “toughest race” in sprint races despite debuting in the category at the World Championships in Budapest, which could stir controversy.

“In my head I was like, ‘I’m pretty sure I won this, but everyone is acting like they just won’. So I was like ‘did I just win this? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure I won,” Lyles said.

After being confirmed as the winner, Lyles went on to put on a bullish mantra by telling the world through the TV camera that he had proved those who never saw his victory on the cards wrong.

Lyles hit back at critics saying , “They said I wasn’t the one (that would win it) but thank God that I am.”

Reacting to the comment, Lyles insisted that it came off instinct and that it was not planned.

“Just pure instinct. I had no Idea. I only said something because I did not have a big theatric, I didn't  cross the line but ‘cause like really, I really think like really, I was going to go wild ‘cause I won, so I did not really have anything, and that came out of nowhere.

“And it just started with the first one right off the bat, they said I couldn’t beat no one, and they said it wasn’t me (who would win it.”

“I was third at the US (qualifying championships). I was ranked number 13 in the world. I had my PR with 9:86. There were three, four or five people that had faster PRs coming into this race, like no, nobody expected me to come and win this race. They never even expected me to win a medal.”

The outspoken athlete appeared to aim a dig at his fellow finalists who are more specialists in the category, appearing to accuse them of letting him win it on a plate.

“This was my first World Championships 100 meters (race). This is the hardest one. 100 meters is the hardest challenge beyond the double and I got it done right off the bat.

“I was like, you all f****d up. You let me win the 100? Naah! I had to take that, everybody wanted that. Second, third and fourth all ran the same time.”

Lyles is still in disbelief that he won gold in the category considering he is actually a 200m specialist.

“I would not say it really changed anything ‘cause I already knew that the 200 was going to be mine, but winning the 100, that was just like exciting, I knew I was going to win but it is one thing to see it in your head and another to actually do it.

“I was telling a lot of people that I have done victory laps tons of times before but they have all been like in empty stadiums and this was like the first time I have ever done a victory lap and like the whole stadium is full, like standing on their feet, cheering. It was amazing.”