Three of the fastest men in the world are about to take on the curve from three very different perspectives. Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Letsile Tebogo have all landed in separate lanes for the 200m semifinals. It’s a detail that could decide everything in a race where lane geometry shapes speed. Here’s how the semifinalists have lined up.

Bednarek will lead the first race of the semifinals. The 26-year-old will compete against Wayde van Niekerk, Christopher Taylor, and others. Tebogo will compete in semifinal 2 against names like Jerome Blake, Courtney Lindsey, and Bryan Levell. Meanwhile, Lyles will take on Andre de Grasse, Adrian Kerr, and others in the third semifinal race. The semifinals are arguably designed in such a way to ensure that the three fastest 200m runners face each other only in the finals. 

It’s likely a measure to pique the fans’ interest for the finale. We’ve already seen the unrest between Bednarek and Noah Lyles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships men’s 100m race. Lyles had to accept the bronze medal at 9.89s, while Kenny Bednarek closely missed the podium by finishing the race fourth in 9.92s. But for the Botswana star, Letsile Tebogo, it was an utter disappointment to be disqualified due to a false start. Even off the track, the rivalry between the trio continues to simmer, albeit slowly. 

Back at the 2025 USATF 200m final, Noah Lyles beat Bednarek by a difference of a mere 0.04 seconds. And as the six-time world champion crossed the finish line, he turned around and stared Bednarek down. Needless to say, with the kind of animosity the duo has displayed in the past, Bednarek assumed it to be a taunt. That led him to shove Lyles, which in turn resulted in a brief verbal altercation.

With the 2025 World Athletics Championships in motion, both Bednarek and Lyles have their sights set on the win. 

Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles’ strategy for the 200m race at the worlds

During a conversation with Olympics.com, Kenny Bednarek opened up about his stance against Noah Lyles. He dismissed his relationship with the 28-year-old as rivalry and claimed, “I’m just focused on myself.” Of course, the duo has battled each other on multiple occasions (18 times in 100m and 200m finals). And Lyles has taken the edge over Bednarek by winning 14 of these races. But this doesn’t faze the Olympic Games silver medalist. 

He continued, “I know what I can do and, yeah, we battled throughout the years and it’s been tough competition and he’s had the better of me… but now I’m getting to the point of like, ‘Hey, if I want to break barriers and actually end up being a winner, I gotta put myself in an uncomfortable situation.’ I’m pushing limits; breaking barriers. That’s what I’ve been trying to do this year.”

But Noah Lyles isn’t someone who backs down easily. In an interview with CITIUS MAG, Lyles revealed his plan to defeat Tebogo and Bednarek. He claimed, “Obviously, I have the energy, obviously I have the motivation. I don’t plan to lose; I plan to go out there full force, jump off the cliff, so to say, with all enthusiasm into this race.” But who do you think has the better chance of winning the 200m final in Tokyo?