Noah Lyles' rival Zharnel Hughes eyeing revenge after failing to qualify for 100m final at Paris Olympics

Noah Lyles' rival Zharnel Hughes has expressed that he will be coming for redemption after failing to qualify for both the 100m and 200m finals at the Paris Olympics. The Brit managed to secure a bronze in the 4x100m relay.

Hughes participated in the second Olympic event of his career this year in Paris, but wasn't able to advance to the final in either of the individual events. He finished sixth in the 100m semifinal heat 3 with a time of 10.01s and did not participate in the 200m due to hamstring spasms related to his sciatic nerve.

Nonetheless, the 29-year-old did make it to the final of the 4x100m relay alongside Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and won the first Olympic medal of his career—a bronze—with a time of 37.61 seconds. Remarkably, he ran the 4x100m with a taped hamstring and was also taking painkillers for it.

Talking about his bittersweet Paris Olympics campaign with Sky Sports, Zharnel Hughes shared that he was glad to get his hands on some hardware in the end. He also expressed his pride in his team and vowed to seek revenge in the future.

"Right after I crossed the line, my hamstring was hurting me again. But I got a medal and I was able to smile at the end of the day," he said. "I wanted to leave with something and make myself and my team proud. And I was happy to do so. But coming back for revenge. Yeah. Trust me, I am."

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"I don't like his ways in regards to how he gets on the track" - Zharnel Hughes shares his views on Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles and Zharnel Hughes at the World Athletics Championships. Budapest 2023 (Image via Getty)

Commenting on his American counterpart Noah Lyles during the same interview with Sky Sports, Zharnel Hughes noted that both of them are fierce competitors but expressed his disapproval of the way Lyles represents himself on the track.

"At the end of the day, we are serious competitors. But it's not like we hate each other or anything. I personally don't dislike him. I don't like his ways in regards to how he gets on the track. But I guess that's the way he gives himself confidence and stuff. But overall, I don't have any issue with Noah Lyles. I don't have anything against him."

Zharnel Hughes also noted that both he and Lyles are fighting for the same prize and strive to bring their best performance on the track.