Noah Lyles must show ‘sheer dominance’ to even be considered for the GOAT conversation, an ex-sprinter has claimed.
The Olympic champion has been tipped to join Usain Bolt as one of the greatest-ever track athletes.
Lyles has been told what he must do to enter the GOAT debate
Lyles has been told what he must do to enter the GOAT debateCredit:
Eight-time Olympic Bolt is considered the greatest sprinter of all-time
Eight-time Olympic Bolt is considered the greatest sprinter of all-
Lyles is currently the third fastest man in history across the 200m, with his personal best of 19.31secs only beaten by Bolt and Yohan Blake.
Meanwhile, his 100m gold in Paris last summer followed a trio of wins at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
The American will defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles in Tokyo in September, having already won six World Championship gold medals.
However, former Bahamian sprinter Rodney Green believes Lyles has some way to go to be considered alongside Bolt.
Green discussed whether Lyles would enter the GOAT conversation by winning gold again in Tokyo with Justin Gatlin on the Ready Set Go podcast.
The 39-year-old admitted: “I definitely don’t think it would move him into a GOAT situation.
“This is no shade to Noah, I do think Noah is a clutch champion, but he hasn’t shown enough sheer dominance in the 100m yet.”
As for what it would take for Lyles to be put into that debate, Green added: “He would have to defend both medals.
“He would have to be the defending world champion, he would have to defend that gold and he would have to be the defending Olympic champion and win that gold again in 2028.
“In between those years he would have to show sheer dominance.”
Green believes Lyles must have an era of ‘sheer dominance’ to be considered a great
Green believes Lyles must have an era of ‘sheer dominance’ to be considered a greatCredit: Ready Set Go Podcast
The American will defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m world titles this September
The American will defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m world titles this SeptemberCredit: AFP
Lyles won his first Olympic gold medal in the French capital last year alongside a bronze in the 200m.
He had previously won bronze in the same event at the previous Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old also holds the national record in both the 200m and 4x100m already in his career.
Green believes the required dominance is still lacking, though, explaining: “Most of the Olympic champions after the Olympic medal, they usually dominate going over the next few years. That would be the thing for me.
“He has a lot of hardware, he has a lot of accomplishments but defending those medals back-to-back would be a thing for me.”
As for what sets Bolt apart, he said: “It’s no secret he wants to be one of the greatest of all-time, one of the best to ever do it.
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“If we’re going to hold him to those standards, the benchmark would be Usain Bolt. If you do that and take his championships, Worlds and Olympics, they’re mostly golds”
Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals during his legendary career along with a further 11 titles at the World Championships.
The Jamaican remains the world record holder in each of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, with each of his times set over a decade ago.
Gatlin believes Lyles could move into the GOAT conversation as early as September, though, with another dominant display in Japan.
He revealed: “I think if he goes back and defends his World Championship titles from the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, he’s definitely in the GOAT category.”
Lyles’ fellow American was a two-time world champion and won gold in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics during his career.
He also joined Bolt on the podium in the event at both the 2012 and 2016 Games after taking bronze and silver, respectively.
Meanwhile, his personal best of 9.74seconds in the 100m makes him the fifth fastest man of all-time.
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