Noah Lyles wants to transcend sprinting. And he’s entered the Paris Olympics exuding confidence – and courting controversy.

In his first public comments in Paris, the double reigning world sprint champion defended his claim that he’s the “fastest man in the world”.

“It’s me,” Lyles said in a press conference on Monday. “It’s always going to be me.”

Lyles was criticized for tagging himself with the moniker after Team USA posted a video to its social channels over the weekend. Speaking from the opening ceremony on the River Seine, the 27-year-old Lyles turned to the camera and said: “What’s up, Team USA? This is Noah Lyles, fastest man in the world, and we are out here in Paris getting ready to go on our tour of the world, introducing America to the Olympics.”

The comment drew pushback from the sprinting community, given Lyles’ quickest 100m time of the year (9.81 seconds) falls short of that posted by Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson (9.77). Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala has also clocked in with a quicker time in 2024, running a 9.79 in June – a quicker time than Lyles has ever run.

But Lyles says the “fastest” tag belongs to title holders, not the stopwatch. “I would like to address the comments surrounding the ‘fastest man’ title,” Lyles said in a video posted on YouTube. “The titles ‘fastest man’ and ‘fastest woman’ are awarded annually to the winners of the 100m at the world championships. I won the men’s 100m at the 2023 world championships, and Sha’Carri [Richardson] won the women’s.

“We do not intend to disrespect or discredit past records or times set in the new season. This is simply how the title is determined. If another male or female wins the 100m at this year’s world championships, they will assume the title. I hope this clarifies the matter for those who had questions.”

Three-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who won the 200m gold at the 1996 Olympics, says the title is a matter of opinion.

“Some facts,” Johnson wrote on X. “Usain is fastest ever. PERIOD. Noah is world champion. PERIOD. Marcel is Olympic Champion. PERIOD. Kishane has the fastest time in the world. PERIOD. Everything else is opinion, and opinions are not facts!”

Lyles will compete in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Paris, and he continues to lobby for a place on the 4x400m relay team. At last year’s world championships in Budapest, Lyles walked away with golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. But has been criticized by Tokyo silver medalist Fred Kerley for campaigning for a spot on the longer-form relay team.

Kerley accused the US track federation of showing favoritism to Lyles, who was part of the 4x400m team that won silver at the indoor world championships in Glasgow. The lineup for the 4x400m relay in Paris has yet to be confirmed.

Lyles will kick off his bid for a first Olympic gold on Saturday, beginning with the preliminary rounds of the 100m at the Stade de France. The men’s 100m final is on 4 August and the 200m final is 8 August.