Victory at the Olympic Games usually attracts fans in droves. However, it can also attract an unwanted amount of detractors. Noah Lyles, the 100-meter champion at Paris 2024, had to learn this the hard way.
Lyles confirmed himself as the fastest man alive by winning the 100-meter final at Paris 2024 in a photo finish. Although the American was already a track and field star, the Olympic gold catapulted him into headlines in media outlets worldwide.
Congratulations were not long in coming from all quarters. Artists, musicians, and fellow athletes took to social media to congratulate the Olympic champion. However, it wasn’t all cheers for Lyles, who also received many hate messages.
Franklin’s message
Zaire Franklin, selected 235th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, didn’t hold back his opinion on the new Olympic champion. In a blunt post on X (formerly Twitter), the Colts linebacker wrote, “Noah Lyles is my least favorite American. Good morning.”
Franklin didn’t give any further context to his comment. There’s also no indication that they know each other outside social media. Lyles has a reputation for seeking gratuitous feuds but has never publicly interacted with the Colts player.
The linebacker had a good season in 2023, with 179 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 17 games as a starter. He also received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and was named number 100 by his peers on the NFL Top 100 list.
Lyles is making enemies
Although the reason for Franklin’s attack on Lyles is unknown, it is well known that the sprinter tends to talk too much. In August 2023, the speedster started a feud with the entire NBA with a single statement
“World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong, I love the U.S., at times. But that ain’t the world…there ain’t no flags in the NBA,” Lyles said, generating an immediate response from several players, including Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo.
A year later, some of the players of the U.S. basketball team were at the Stade de France supporting the track and field team, including Lyles.
After his victory, New York Knicks guard Josh Hart paid tribute to Lyles by writing on Twitter, “Lol na he an Olympic gold medalist. He can talk for life.”
