‘Our Sport Needs Moments Like This’ - Sprint Legends React to Noah Lyles-Kenny Bednarek Feud

Retired Sprinters Justin Gatlin and Rodney Greene has reacted to the brewing feud between Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles following the latest dramatic incident witnessed in the 200m final at the USATF Tokyo World Championship Trials.

The Hayward Field crowd had barely finished roaring for the world-leading 19.63 Lyles dropped to win the race when the air in Eugene thickened with something far more combustible than summer heat.

Bednarek, just four hundredths behind in 19.67, had endured the sight of Lyles turning—eyes locked—delivering a silent message as sharp as the lean that took him across the line. 

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And then, the shove. Two hands. A sudden jolt of shoulder and ego. It wasn’t the usual post-race handshake; it was a sprint feud made visible in one stiff-armed moment.

Bednarek then offered his hand for a handshake before having a word with Lyles, who he warned to “never do that to him” in the future, which clearly created some sense of rivalry and something to look forward to come the championships in September.

Gatlin—a man who’s seen his fair share of on-track fireworks—summed it up with a mix of admiration and warning reacting to the situation on his Ready Set Go podcast.

“Man, anybody that lines up with Noah—100 or 200—when he’s out to prove a point, you know he’s gonna talk-talk and then walk-walk. And that walk-walk says, ‘Gotcha. See you. Peace. It’s me.’”

Gatlin recalled Lyles’ history of confrontations—Christian Coleman in Shanghai, Fred Kerley on social media, Aryan Knighton in interviews—and framed this as another chapter in a well-worn playbook.

“If you give him an inch, he’s taking a mile. If you leave the lane open to the throne, he’s gonna run all the way to it. The only way to stop someone like that is to shut them up in the foot race… Kenny tried, but when that stare came? I think it bubbled over.”

From Gatlin’s perspective, Bednarek’s shove started as a “move out of my way” nudge but landed like a linebacker hit. 

He noted that Bednarek quickly checked himself, offering an immediate apology and suggesting they “talk later,” to which Lyles replied, “I expect my apology.”

It was clear to Gatlin—and to anyone watching—that this was about more than just the finish line.

Rodney Greene, another voice from the sport’s trenches, saw something else: a gift to track and field.

“This does two things: it gets everybody talking, and it’s got memes going everywhere. Our sport needs moments like this, as long as it doesn’t turn into actual physical blows. We’ve seen it before. If it stops short of a fight, these storylines are good for track and field.”

For Greene, the math is simple:

“If you don’t want the antics out of Noah, just beat him. If you can’t beat him, you’re gonna be watching the Noah Show—which is exactly what we’re seeing right now.”

Now, the sport stands split. Some fans are hailing Bednarek for “finally saying enough,” while others cheer Lyles for backing up every ounce of swagger with speed. And the drama isn’t cooling—both men are set to meet again in Lausanne on August 20, then on the biggest stage of all in Tokyo at the World Championships.