USA's Noah Lyles Doubles Down on 'Fastest Man in the World' Claim amid Video Backlash

American sprinter Noah Lyles isn't backing down from his claim that he's the "fastest man in the world" ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Lyles, who's the reigning men's world champion in the 100-meter dash, used that moniker in a video from the opening ceremony uploaded to Team USA's social media channels:

The 27-year-old remained defiant in the face of those who questioned whether he can give himself the honor.

"It's me. It's always going to be me," he told reporters. "... "Everybody knows that the title goes to the Olympic champion and the world champion, which I am one of. And soon to be another one of."

For some, the distinction of being the fastest man in the world belongs to Usain Bolt for as long as he's alive and holds the all-time record in the 100-meter dash (9.58 seconds). Others pointed to the fact Lyles hasn't posted the best performance in the event this season. Kishane Thompson of Jamaica crossed the finish line in 9.77 seconds in June, narrowly eclipsing Lyles' time (9.81) in a Diamond League event in July.

The beauty with track and field is that it's pretty easy to determine who's better or faster.

The men's 100-meter competition gets underway Saturday and wraps up Sunday with the final. Lyles and Thompson are among the participants in addition to with Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala, who also ran faster than Lyles (9.79) at a June race. With any luck, all three will make it to the final.

By the end of the week, somebody will have a definitive case to be considered the fastest man in the world among active sprinters.