Topics: IShowSpeed, Olympics, Athletics
YouTube and Twitch star iShowSpeed has made a decision over whether he will attempt to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after his $100,000 race against Noah Lyles.
Earlier this month, Speed took on 100 metre Olympic champion Lyles in a race over 50 metres during a live stream.
The race was remarkably closer than you might have expected, with Lyles winning but not by a huge margin.
The American did state that he started high-stepping as soon as he took the lead with around 10 metres to go.
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Lyles then declared he would donate the $100,000 to charity. You can see the race - which begins at 21:00 - below.
In recent years, professional sport has seen a rise in the number of YouTube stars and influencers attempting to take part, with boxing the most notable example.
Athletics, though, is a different proposition altogether, with only the most elite sportspeople in the world able to compete at major events such as the Olympics.
An 100 metre race is also considerably different to 50 metres, with top stars able to sprint away in the final half in a way that the vast majority of people simply can't.
But Speed has decided that he does want to race in the Olympics, boldly declaring that he will be able to make it to Los Angeles.
During a live event, he stated: "2028, I'll be running in the Olympics for sure. I'm going to do 100 metres and 50 metres, and maybe 200."
When it was pointed out that 50 metres isn't on the Olympic calendar, Speed replied: "You know what I mean - 100 metres then."
While Speed has already proven his athleticism in his race with Lyles, it would take three and a half years of intensive training to prepare himself to even attempt to qualify for the Games.
The American team also possesses some of the top sprinters on the planet, and only the top three in the Olympic trials for 100 metres and 200 metres will actually make it to the Games.
Based on this year's trials for Paris 2024, Speed would have to run a time of 9.87 seconds over 100 metres, and 19.77 over 200 metres, to qualify.
One advantage Speed does have, though, is his age, as he is still only 19 years of age. If he does take preparation seriously over the next three and a half years, there is plenty of room to grow.
