Noah Lyles has become the talk of track and field’s town over the past few years, and he has been one of the most successful runners of his generation. Not only has he framed several accolades on his athletic wall of fame, but the Gainesville native has left a lasting impression on his track and field counterparts as well. Legends like Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin have praised Lyles on numerous occasions for his attitude and for the athlete that he has become.

Particularly, Gatlin has backed the reigning world champion and his athleticism several times, which was also witnessed recently during a podcast when the former appreciated Noah Lyles ahead of his 60-meter dash at the recently concluded World Athletics Indoor Championships. However, in a recent twist of events, the veteran track legend has shifted his focus away from Lyles and showered praise on another athletic prodigy whom Gatlin believes is a shorter version of Usain Bolt.

Noah Lyles faces a new challenger in the form of a lithe 20-year-old runner

Gatlin sat down for a podcast with the former Bahamian sprinter turned track coach, Rodney Green, on the Tidal League YouTube channel, where the two discussed track rivalries. In a particular segment, the two discussed Noah Lyles and how he can end America’s two-decade-long dry spell of Olympic gold since 2004 and if there’s someone who can pose a challenge to American dreams. To which Green comes up with Botswanan prodigy Letsile Tebogo’s name, and Gatlin agrees with a smile, saying, “What I see when i watch him is a shorter version of Usain.”

The five-time Olympic medalist was impressed with Tebogo’s gate, stride, and turnover, and the former also gives the example of the Simbine Curro Classic, where Tebogo finished his 300-meter sprint in such a dominating fashion that there was barely anyone in the frame when he crossed the finish line and set a new world record in a commanding fashion. Well, this is not the first time Gatlin and Green have drawn comparisons between Noah Lyles and a track runner, but the two discussed a similar topic when Lyles was gearing up to compete in the 60-meter dash at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

What Justin Gatlin had to say previously

Green and Gatlin were sharing their opinions on the showdown between Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman ahead of their 60-meter finals in Glasgow. The 42-year-old New York native had predicted that Coleman would match his world-champion track buddy’s 6.44-second finish time. He also mentioned that the two were going to rise to the occasion.

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Gatlin’s prediction was matched by Coleman’s, and he claimed the gold in the latter event while Lyles finished second. The latter discussion in focus and Justin Gatlin’s views of Noah Lyles against his competitors are surely going to make the Paris track competitions eventful, and the fans must be waiting impatiently to witness who’s going to do it on French soil.

Read More: Noah Lyles’ Rivalry and Beef With His Arch-Rivals Leaves Justin Gatlin in Splits