Fred Kerley has once again taken a shot at his compatriot Noah Lyles by echoing Letsile Tebogo’s previous remarks about Lyles’ “arrogant” and “cocky” demeanor.
In a renewed exchange between two of the world’s top sprinters, Kerley criticized Lyles’ attitude, adding to the rivalry that has been simmering between them for years. This comes months after Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo made similar statements, calling Lyles “arrogant” and “cocky” following their interactions on the track.
The rivalry, which intensified after the 2024 Paris Olympics, saw Lyles winning gold in the 100 meters, while Kerley settled for bronze and Kishane Thompson from Jamaica claimed silver. Their distinct personalities have further fueled the tension between them, with Kerley expressing his frustration.
“Noah’s cocky, arrogant and all that,” Kerley stated in the trailer for season two of the Netflix docuseries Sprint.
Kerley’s remarks come after Tebogo also criticized Lyles’ behavior at the Olympics. Tebogo, who secured a silver medal in the 200 meters in Paris, labeled Lyles as “loud” and “aggressive” during post-race interactions.
“I think, for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah (Lyles). So, I believe Noah is the face of athletics,” Tebogo said during a press conference.
These comments indicate a growing perception among Lyles’ competitors regarding his bold personality, with Tebogo’s views aligning with Kerley’s sentiments.
Lyles, however, has embraced his role as one of the sport’s more expressive figures. Famous for his energetic celebrations and emotional displays, he has often attracted attention on and off the track. Responding to the criticisms, Lyles acknowledged the differences between himself and Kerley.
“Fred and I are very different. I am very open about my emotions; he is not. Fred is that very much quiet personality,” Lyles explained. “He is not calling me up like, ‘Hey, you wanna go out for the weekend?’ That is not our relationship.”
Though they aren’t personally close, the two sprinters maintain a mutual respect on the track. Kerley, who claimed the 100-meter world title in 2022, was viewed as Lyles’ primary rival until Lyles added the 100 meters to his repertoire, winning gold at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Their rivalry and contrasting personalities have been prominently featured in the Netflix series Sprint, which provides an in-depth look at their journey to the championships and highlights their differing approaches.
Despite the off-track drama, both Kerley and Lyles have established themselves as dominant figures in sprinting, each pushing the other to reach new levels of performance.
