– In 2028 I will definitely run in the Olympics, said “IShowSpeed” during an interview on stage during the Complex Con conference in Las Vegas on Sunday. The popular 19-year-old, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., announced that he wants to run 50 meters, 100 meters and 200 meters in Los Angeles in four years. He was naturally arrested on the ground that the shortest distance did not exist, but parried quickly. – You know what I mean. The announcement came shortly after he met reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in a 50m duel. There, Lyles, not surprisingly, was the fastest. – Then I should change sports “IShowSpeed” attracted a lot of attention when he visited Norway earlier this year. First there was chaos in Oslo, then a slightly calmer trip to Stavanger. The American has become an enormous celebrity on the internet, where he has great success on several platforms. On YouTube he has 33.2 million subscribers, while he has 35.7 and 26.6 million followers respectively on TikTok and Instagram. CHAOS: Speed showed up in Oslo wearing a Norwegian national team uniform, and so did hundreds of teenage boys. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB In Stavanger, he met, among others, the Vikings’ fastest player, Sondre Langås, for a sprint duel over half the length of the track – about 50 metres. A duel in which the American emerged victorious. Langås claims he did not run at full speed, as he had not warmed up. – He surprised me in the first meters. He’s quite quick at the start, so I’m guessing he’ll hang on a little bit, but he’ll catch up when the best come out. I’m pretty sure that I should have beaten “Speed” in a 100 metres. So if he is that good, then I should change sports. Got comments after the loss Langås says he has been impressed and surprised by some of what he has seen of “IShowSpeed”. – I have seen him jump towards Lyles and have seen some spring jumps. He has an explosive body and genetics that are crazy, but he doesn’t think the level is there for him to win a medal, grins the Norwegian national team stopper to news. Because that is where the level must be if you are going to the Olympics for the USA. One must be able to win a medal. LATTERMILD: Sondre Langås and Sander Berge celebrated Norway’s group win in the National League on Sunday and a solid win against Kazakhstan. Photo: BILDBYRÅN – He seems a bit like a wild bass, how did you experience him? – You are right about the word wild bass. He was a lively guy. He creates a lot of life and excitement. He would probably create a bit more buzz, and I’m guessing some would watch if he chose to go for it. He experienced for himself that he goes straight home to the teenagers. – One noticed that he is quite big in Norway and abroad, and that there were quite a few young people who wanted to meet me. I have received quite a few comments afterwards: “Are you the one who ran towards “Speed”? You’re slow!”, laughs Langås. Dismisses the possibility Even Meinseth is a three-time Norwegian champion in the 100 meters and even has the Olympics in Los Angeles in mind, of course in the new branch of flag football. He poured cold water on the supporters of “IShowSpeed”. Because even if he thinks he is extremely athletic, the conclusion is simple: – It sounds very unlikely. THREE IN A ROW: Even Meinseth took his third straight victory in the 100 meters in Stjørdal two years ago. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Meinseth believes the 19-year-old could have become a good sprinter if he changed his lifestyle and trained hard, but hardly thinks it would have reached an Olympic level. – In addition, he had never been able to qualify through the American withdrawal. The level there is far too high. Another who is skeptical is Steve Magness. The American is an athletics coach and author. – The chance of him making it to the Olympics is zero percent, unless he runs for an obscure nation. It would be crazy even if he came close in time to qualify for the Olympic selection. I still hope he gives it a try, writes Magness on X. The formal requirements to participate in the Olympics in Paris were 10.00 seconds for 100 meters and 20.16 for 200 meters. The same requirements apply to the WC in Tokyo next season. Some of the athletes come in via ranking, but for an American it is unthinkable that you take part in an Olympics without being able to run under 10 or 20 seconds in the two distances. Published 19.11.2024, at 06.54
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The internet phenomenon with a sensational Olympic plan: – Then I should change sports
