Noah Lyles’ Response To Letsile Tebogo Rivalry at Diamond League Has the Perfect Reaction From Track Community

After winning the men’s 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Letsile Tebogo was asked if he aspired to become the face of athletics. “I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah [Lyles]. So, I believe Noah is the face of athletics,” he replied. Over the year, their rivalry has grown, standing at 3-2 in favor of the American before Tebogo had the chance to equal that in Zurich, but did Noah Lyles let him?

What a showdown between Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo at the Diamond League final in Zurich today. The gunshot echoed through the silence in the Letzigrund Stadium, and the 200m Olympic gold and silver medalist shot out of their blocks like bullets, accelerating right next to each other. Starting at number 2, the Botswana sprinter was quick to the lead within seconds, and even on the curve, he was as quick as a rabbit.

Noah was still behind him. But this is where things began to heat up as the 200m world champion started to accelerate. “Tebogo’s got half a yard and now it’s down to 10cm, and now it’s almost dead heat,” the commentator remarked as Noah Lyles chased. Tebogo looked sure to win, but a question still loomed, “Who’s gonna get another line?” and the answer was just right there, “Lyles!” In the final moments of the race, the reigning world champion outran the Botswana sprinter in a photo finish.

Watch it with the naked eye, and you probably might not even realize who had won. And now, the rivalry stands at 4-2. Noah Lyles ran down Letsile Tebogo to win the men’s 200m Diamond League trophy in Zurich in 19.74s (-0.6). Tebogo was 2nd in 19.76s. After the race, Lyles posed in front of the camera, sticking out his tongue and making a victory hand gesture.

This was his sixth consecutive Diamond League Final title. “Six in a row, the most in track!” he reacted. “It is pretty nice to have that. I saw Letsile lean on the finish line but I knew I won. I knew if I panicked I was not going to win. If you are tight you are done for.” And meanwhile, fans are awe-struck.

Fans in awe of Noah Lyles

The way Noah Lyles won this race has left the fans in awe of the track and field athlete. One remarked, “After Bolt, Noah is the best 200M runner ever.” This comparison has always been there. With Noah eyeing Bolt’s records and creating a legacy in the 200m, he sure can be called Bolt’s successor. After all, he calls himself the fastest man in the world. The American is also the 3rd fastest man in the 200m, with a time of 19.31. Lightning Bolt (19.19) and Yohan Blake (19.26) are ahead of him.

Another fan noted, “As an athlete, if you have top end speed, the best way to fully activate it, is by chasing. Lyles has clocked that and he’ll always use it to his advantage.” There is no debate to this, and the 100m in the Paris Olympics is a solid example. The American was slowest out of the blocks in the finals, yet he chased the field and won by milliseconds ahead of Thompson.

Talking of the Olympics, one fan commented, “I will say it again, a fully fit Noah Lyles would have won the Olympic 200m title.” At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lyles tested positive for COVID-19 two days before the men’s 200m final. Yet he raced and finished third with a time of 19.70 seconds, behind Tebogo (19.46s) and Kenny Bednarek (19.62s). The war horns of world champions have also begun after this race.

Meanwhile, another wrote, “He’s winning that 200 unless he doesn’t clutch for once. Hes in 19.50-19.40 shape imo.” The last time we saw the 200m world champion go anywhere near the 19.50 mark was more than a year before at the Olympic trials last year in June, where he clocked 19.53. A figure like that in the Worlds? We saw him clock 19.52s in 2023. He might do it again.

“The battle at Worlds in both 100m and 200m will be intense. Cant f____ wait🔥” commented another fan. Kishane Thompson vs Noah Lyles vs Kenny Bednarek? For sure, it’s going to be awesome.

Do you have any predictions there? Don’t hesitate to share with us!