It all began in 2018, when a young Noah Lyles exploded onto the Diamond League legs, winning in Doha, Eugene, Lausanne, and Monaco, and then conquering the Zurich Final. Each race was a showcase—blistering bends, explosive finishes, and a fearless grin that said he wasn’t just racing the clock; he was racing toward history. The next year, he came back even faster, winning in Shanghai with a late surge, then clocking a blistering 19.50s in Lausanne, the fourth-fastest time ever. He added another meet record in Paris and capped it off in Brussels by becoming the first to win Diamond League titles in both the 100 m and 200 m. So to say, his streak remained unchallenged for a long time. Until now…

After the world paused, Lyles reignited his fire in 2022, tearing through Doha, Monaco, and Lausanne with clinical precision. Then came Zurich again, where he blasted a 19.52s, breaking Bolt’s meet record into a headwind. But he wasn’t done. In 2023, in London, he scorched the track with a world-leading 19.47s and capped it off in Zurich, outclassing the next generation with a cool 19.80s. Nine races. Nine wins. No losses. Lyles didn’t just dominate the 200 m. He ruled it. Now he is set to make his 200 m debut of the 2025 Diamond League season in Monaco on July 11, where he’ll collide with Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, which means the streak is well challenged this time.

Rewind back to Paris 2024, Tebogo and Lyles lined up against each other twice. And both times, the American lost. In the 200 m semi-finals, Tebogo surged ahead around the bend to clock 19.96s, beating Lyles, who followed in 20.08s, and then history repeated for Tebogo in the finals, while Noah saw a downfall. Why? Because the Botswana sprinter claimed gold in 19.46 s (an African record), while Lyles, hampered by illness, finished third in 19.70. Also, if we look at the current World Lead by Letsile, Noah was faster than them only twice in his eight 200m attempts last year. 

The 200m gold medalist claimed the current world lead in the 200 m with a 19.76s run at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5, 2025. By comparison, in 2024, Noah Lyles ran the 200 m eight times but managed to beat Tebogo’s best only once. His standout performance came with a 19.53 s victory at the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 29—a world-leading time that season. He also clocked 19.60 s in the Trials semi-final and 19.70 s to earn bronze at the Paris Olympics. Also, the last time Noah beat Tebogo was 23 months ago.

The last time Noah Lyles finished ahead of Letsile Tebogo was nearly two years ago—at the 2023 Anniversary Games in London on July 21, 2023. In a high-octane showdown, Lyles surged to victory with 19.47 s, outpacing Tebogo’s 19.50. Before this, Lyles had another win over him at the London Diamond League, July 23, 2023. The 100-meter gold medalist edged out the 200-meter gold medalist in a thrilling 200 m showdown: 19.47s to 19.50s, with Tebogo setting an African record, but Lyles taking the win.

The Monaco Diamond League will serve as the 200m head-to-head tiebreaker between the two. But for Noha Lyles, who has removed all posts from his Instagram, the races mean a lot more.

More than a 10-0 streak for Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles is heading to the Monaco Diamond League on July 11, where he’ll return to the 200 m for the first time this season. With five Diamond Trophies already under his belt, he’s now just one away from tying the all-time record held by Renaud Lavillenie and Christian Taylor. But for Lyles, Monaco isn’t just about silverware — it’s about rhythm. After skipping the Prefontaine Classic with a minor ankle issue, this will be his first major test ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo this September, where he already holds wildcards in both the 100 m and 200 m thanks to his double-gold showing in Budapest.

Waiting in the wings is his Olympic rival, Kishane Thompson. It’s been nearly a year since their unforgettable showdown in Paris, where Lyles edged him by just .005 seconds in the 100 m final. Since then, the Jamaican sprinter has only gotten stronger, recently clocking a blazing 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican National Championships, making him the sixth-fastest man in history over the distance.  Coach Rob sent a warning to Noah Lyles and Co., citing this performance.

Recently, Thompson also made a statement about Lyles, saying, “When he’s ready to step back on the track and we meet, it’s going to be fireworks for sure.” Off the track, though, Lyles has taken some hits. A planned 50-yard/100 m race in Times Square with NFL star Tyreek Hill was canceled due to “personal reasons”. Hill didn’t let it slide, taking to social media to mock Lyles. The withdrawal raised eyebrows and dented Lyles’s reputation among fans. Do let us know your thoughts on this.