Tension and triumph collided on the Eugene track when Noah Lyles edged Kenny Bednarek in the U.S. 200-meter final, a race decided by four-hundredths of a second. Lyles crossed in 19.63 seconds, Bednarek in 19.67. The result alone was compelling, but the aftermath carried the greater weight: a staredown, a shove to the back, and a refusal to let bygones slide.
The post-race quarrel centered on Lyles’ decision to glance across at Bednarek in the closing meters, a gesture interpreted as provocation. Bednarek shoved his rival after the finish and later told reporters, “Noah is going to be Noah. What he said didn’t matter, it’s just what he did. Unsportsmanlike s–t and I don’t deal with that.” He added, “The grand summary is: don’t do that to me. I don’t do any of that stuff.” Although he conceded that Lyles “was the better man today,” Bednarek made clear that the respect between them is fragile.
The incident might have remained the evening’s dominant thread were it not for an unexpected turn in the winner’s interview. Mondo Duplantis, seated alongside in the Silesia 2025 Press Conference, inserted himself into the narrative with a question that cut directly to the heart of the matter. “Can I ask a question? I want to ask Noah about like that staredown and that push because that s–t was kind of crazy gang,” Duplantis remarked. Lyles, visibly uninterested in extending the debate, replied simply, “no comment.” The exchange drew a smile from Duplantis, who responded, “Fair enough. I enjoyed it though, I enjoyed it.” The lightness of tone contrasted sharply with the intensity of the race and momentarily disarmed the room.
The host attempted to redirect the conversation, turning to Lyles with, “Do you have any question to Mondo, Noah?” Lyles shifted the mood once more, saying, “Don’t break the world record so I can get the ring.” The pole vaulter answered in kind, adding, “No comment, no comment.” In those brief lines, the focus moved from a bitter clash between American sprinters to an lighthearted, impromptu moment shared with track and field’s most celebrated vaulter. Duplantis’ presence reframed the conversation, leaving Lyles uncharacteristically quiet and relaxed about the situation and forcing the tension into the background.
Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek (Image Credit: Instagram/@kevmofoto)
Both athletes are expected to meet again at the World Championships in Tokyo next month, where the storyline will carry far greater stakes. Bednarek, who has defeated Lyles in both of the last two Olympic 200-meter finals, insists he will reclaim the upper hand. Lyles remains the fastest American to ever run the event and a three-time world champion. At least, after the U.S. 200-meter final, the two athletes managed to keep the situation between them to just intense, competitive rivalry and not a full-blown animosity.
Kenny Bednarek Sheds Light on the Almost Brawl and Renewed Rivalry With Noah Lyles
Kenny Bednarek has been forthright about the incident that marked his last meeting with Lyles, when their exchange spilled beyond the finish line. In his view, the confrontation was avoidable, though it revealed the tension that often brews in elite sprinting. “As you saw, Noah stared me down. I gave a push. I feel like we both could have handled that situation a little bit differently and with more respect,” he told CNN Sports. His candor signaled a willingness to address the matter rather than leave it unresolved in silence.
August 03 2025 Eugene, OR U.S.A. CAPTION CORRECTION: Mens 200 meter athlete Noah Lyles is pushed by Kenny Bednarek both talks about incident during the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championship Day 4 at Hayward Field Eugene OR / CSM Eugene USA – ZUMAc04_ 20250803_zma_c04_174 Copyright: xThurmanxJamesx
The two athletes eventually set aside time to meet privately, where Bednarek described an hour-long discussion intended to repair the situation. According to him, that conversation allowed both sides to express their perspective and arrive at an understanding. He explained that emotions were high in the immediate aftermath of the race, but conversation tempered the edge of the conflict. The decision to talk it through, as Bednarek put it, was less about agreement on every point and more about ensuring that their rivalry did not descend into lasting hostility.
Even so, Bednarek has not hidden the competitive tension that remains whenever their names are entered in the same lane. He remarked that supporters should “expect fireworks” when they meet in either the 100 or 200 meters, because the rivalry itself, in his words, “is real.” That admission leaves their next contest with a distinctive anticipation: although the disagreement has been settled privately, the edge in competition persists, suggesting that their upcoming encounter could carry a resonance that extends well beyond the stopwatch.
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