US track championships turned intense on Sunday, with a heated post-race confrontation between Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek after the 200m final. The two sprinters crossed the finish line separated by just 0.04 seconds, with Lyles securing his fifth national title at this distance.
Bednarek, who lost to Lyles in both the Olympics’ 200m final and the Paris World Championships 100m heat, vowed to come back stronger next month in Tokyo. Despite Lyles gloating after crossing the finish line, Bednarek remained calm, saying that he doesn’t engage with “unsportsmanlike” behavior.
The rivalry between the two sprinters dates back to the Olympics, where Bednarek has won silver and beaten Lyles twice. However, this year’s US track championships marked a significant moment in their ongoing feud.
Lyles, who was dealing with an injury earlier in the season, seemed focused on his comeback, saying “if they ain’t gonna beat me now, they ain’t gonna beat me ever.” Bednarek, on the other hand, expressed confidence that he can surpass Lyles at the Tokyo World Championships.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/04/kenny-bednarek-criticizes-noah-lyles-after-200m-shoving-match-its-not-good-character