At the Stade de France track, with the world watching, Noah Lyles surged past Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in the 100m final, grabbing Olympic gold and what many considered the undisputed title of Fastest Man Alive.
But in the world of sprinting, speed is a fickle crown. What you did last summer won’t always matter by spring.
Enter the Sub-10 King
While Noah Lyles has spent the early part of 2025 recovering and regrouping, another sprinter has been quietly rewriting history. Akani Simbine, known as the Sub-10 King, has made consistency his brand, and his times speak volumes.
In April, under the sunlit skies of Botswana, Simbine clocked a blistering 9.90 seconds in the 100m. That mark wasn’t just another win; it was his 11th consecutive season running under 10 seconds, breaking Usain Bolt’s previous record of ten. In a sport obsessed with peak moments, Simbine is a reminder that greatness can also be about showing up, race after race, year after year.
And while Noah Lyles has remained absent from the 100m in 2025, Simbine has stayed undefeated in the event, letting his stopwatch do the talking.
A Debate Bigger Than Medals
The conversation hit a fever pitch during a recent YouTube podcast hosted by Coach Rob, where track analysts Anderson Emerole and Anson Henry tackled the growing debate.
“Last year, Noah Lyles won Olympic gold. Kishane Thompson had the world lead. Akani Simbine, on average, was the most consistent,” Emerole pointed out.
There’s no official accolade for season-long dominance or a world leader’s speed, just one race and one medal to settle it all. And that, critics argue, does a disservice to sprinters like Simbine, whose reliability is unmatched.
Lyles Plays the Long Game
Even without competing in the 100m this season, Noah Lyles has remained a presence. At the Adidas Atlanta City Games on May 17, fans flocked to see him race the 150m. But an ankle issue kept him off the track. True to form, Lyles didn’t let a missed race dim his spotlight. He turned the meet into a celebration, mingling with fans, dancing, and owning the event without even lacing up.
Addressing the crowd, Lyles explained the decision to skip the race.
“It’s just playing safe. I got two bars in the World Championship. There’s no need to rush anything.”
His focus now shifts to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September, where he plans to defend his crown on the sport’s biggest stage. And if history is any indication, that’s where Lyles shines brightest.
So, Who Holds the Title?
In truth, there may be no clear-cut answer. Noah Lyles is the reigning Olympic champion and a master of the moment. Akani Simbine is the model of consistency and currently undefeated in 2025. One owns the medals; the other owns the clock.
Perhaps it’s time for track and field to rethink what it means to be the fastest man alive. Is it about the single greatest race, the season’s most consistent performer, or the athlete with the current world lead? The debate itself is a testament to how thrilling, unpredictable, and fiercely competitive men’s sprinting has become.
What’s certain is this: come September in Tokyo, with the world watching and stakes sky-high, both men will have a chance to settle it where it counts, on the track.
