The stage is set, the lanes are drawn, and the baton is about to blaze once again! The World Athletics Relays returns this weekend, live from Guangzhou, China—and if you thought the tracks had cooled down after Paris, think again. Guangzhou is about to light up as the world’s fastest athletes line up for the World Athletics Relays. And this isn’t just about medals. It’s about making it to Tokyo. Only the top 14 teams in each relay event will qualify for the World Championships this September. The rest? They’ll be left chasing points and praying to the rankings gods later this summer.

And just like that, the racing’s not even started—but the drama already has. Because while teams are warming up, one U.S. track star has lit a match. Not with his spikes. Not with a baton. With his words. What did he say? Let’s say he didn’t hold back; now, fans have responded as well!

Vernon Norwood didn’t need a baton to make noise this week. With one quick post on X, the American 400m star reignited a simmering rivalry between the U.S. and Canada’s sprint squads—just days before both teams hit the track at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou. “They got lucky!” Norwood wrote on May 9, referencing Canada’s dramatic 4x100m win at the Paris Olympics, where a botched baton exchange extended the USA’s 20-year medal drought in the event. The dig wasn’t exactly subtle, and fans didn’t take it lightly.

This isn’t the first time U.S. athletes have stirred the pot. Ahead of the Paris Games Relays last year, Noah Lyles—known for his confidence as much as his speed—raised eyebrows. When asked whether Canada would be a threat in the 4x100m, Lyles smirked and replied, “Who?” not once, but twice.

Norwood, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400m, hasn’t publicly clarified his comment. But it has only added fuel to a rivalry that’s been heating up for years—one that will now unfold on the track again in Guangzhou. With qualification spots for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo on the line, this weekend’s relays are more than just another meet.

Fans are not impressed by Vernon Norwood’s remarks

Honestly, Vernon Norwood might’ve just been trying to hype up the rivalry ahead of the next showdown, but fans weren’t letting that “lucky” comment slide.

One witty fan replied, “What about Eugene (laughing emoji)”—reminding everyone of the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, where Canada stunned the U.S. The Canadian team of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney, and Andre De Grasse didn’t just win—they clocked a world-leading 37.48s, beating the favored U.S. quartet by 0.07s and breaking the national record.

Another fan responded with a sarcastic, “Watch them get lucky again,” leaning into Norwood’s narrative with a clear tone of irony. Then came the realist fan who posted, “Let’s see what the USA can do Vernon… IT’S on Tomorrow,” grounding the debate with anticipation for the next race. This reaction pivoted away from past jabs and focused on performance in the present, a sentiment many fans echoed.

But one user had enough as he said: “Why even bother with s— like this? Just compete and respect your competitors smh.” That comment spoke for fans, calling out the unnecessary jabs. In a sport where hundredths of a second matter, respect among elite sprinters is crucial. After all, both teams train relentlessly for moments like these.

The most composed response laid it bare: “Why lucky? They prepared (like everyone else), executed under pressure (which is the difficult part) and took the opportunity… Italy did the same at Tokyo. That’s not luck. If the favourite doesn’t execute, it’s on them.” That’s true—Italy won gold in 2021 with 37.50s.  Consistency and chemistry matter more than sheer speed, especially in the relay. In short? Fans weren’t buying the “luck” angle.