American sprint legend has weighed in on the much-anticipated showdown between NFL star and Olympic champion , suggesting that Hill should strike while the iron is hot.
Gatlin believes the current off-season could present Hill with his best opportunity to beat Lyles, whose speed on the track has made him one of the most formidable sprinters of his generation.
Speaking on a recent episode of thepodcast, co-hosted by Rodney Green, Gatlin shared his insights into the timing of the potential race.
“This would be his best shot,” Gatlin stated.
“His best shot is to race right now while he’s primed,” referring to Hill’s current conditioning as an active NFL player and Lyles’s off-season form.
The excitement surrounding a possible race between Hill and Lyles has been fueled by online exchanges, where the two speedsters traded verbal jabs, setting the stage for what could be an epic showdown.
Hill, renowned for his blazing speed on the football field, has hinted on social media that he might have the upper hand over Lyles, especially after a recent 50-meter exhibition race.
Lyles recently took on YouTube sensation Darren Jason Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed.
The Olympic champion won the short-distance race, but the contest was closer than many expected.
American YouTube sensation IShowSpeed has claimed that reigning 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles is afraid to race him again after their 50m showdown on Wednesday.
Gatlin pointed to this as evidence that Lyles might not be at his peak, giving Hill a potential edge if the two raced currently.
Hill seemed to echo Gatlin’s sentiments, taking to X (formerly Twitter) after the Lyles vs Speed race to voice his confidence.
“And track athletes think he gone beat me,” Hill posted, implying that if Lyles found Speed challenging, he might struggle against Hill, an elite athlete at the peak of his game.
Lyles, however, didn’t back down, replying to Hill with a bold assertion that he would face the same outcome as Speed.
The back-and-forth has only added to the anticipation among fans, who are eager to see if Hill’s NFL-caliber speed can stand up to Lyles’s world-class sprinting.
While no official race has been scheduled, Gatlin’s comments add momentum to the idea of a Hill-Lyles showdown, with both athletes eager to prove who’s the fastest.