EUGENE, Ore. — Tensions flared after Noah Lyles claimed victory in the 200-meter final at the USA Track and Field Championships on Sunday. Lyles, an Olympic gold medalist, finished the race in 19.63 seconds, narrowly beating rival Kenny Bednarek by just 0.04 seconds.

As Lyles crossed the finish line, he turned to look at Bednarek, a move that is often seen as a taunt in sprinting. This prompted Bednarek to shove Lyles in the back moments later. The incident sparked a heated exchange between the two athletes.

“I expect my apology,” Lyles was heard saying after initially refusing Bednarek’s handshake following the race. The confrontation continued during an NBC interview, where both sprinters agreed to discuss their issues off the track.

Bednarek later addressed the incident, stating, “Noah is going to be Noah. What he said didn’t matter, it’s just what he did. Unsportsmanlike [expletive] and I don’t deal with that.” He emphasized the importance of respect in competition, adding, “At the end of the day, he won the race, so I’ve got to give him his props. He was the better man today.”

This rivalry is not new. Bednarek has defeated Lyles in the last two Olympic 200-meter finals, earning silver medals both times. However, Lyles holds the title of the fastest American to ever run the 200 meters and is a three-time world champion in the event.

The two athletes are set to meet again at the World Championships in Tokyo on September 19, a matchup that is now expected to draw significant attention due to their ongoing rivalry.

After the race, Lyles declined to comment on the altercation, simply stating “no comment” when asked by reporters. Bednarek, however, indicated that there are unresolved issues between them. “It’s just some personal stuff that we gotta handle. He’s got my number, if he wants to call me, he has every chance to do it,” Bednarek said. “At the end of the day, he can call me whenever, we can discuss it and we should be good.”

As the two prepare for their next competition, the atmosphere surrounding their rivalry is likely to intensify.