Well, the rivalry between newly crowned Olympic 200m champ Letsile Tebogo and 100m champ Noah Lyles has been buzzing ever since the Paris Olympics. There, Lyles came into the Games dreaming of breaking Usain Bolt’s 100m and 200m records, but while he took home gold in the 100m, but… the 200m slipped through his fingers. But then, here comes Tebogo, winning the 200m and delivering a zinger in his victory speech that probably had Lyles wishing he could run away from the moment. Ouch!

After his surprise gold medal win at Paris 2024, Letsile Tebogo called Noah Lyles “arrogant” and “loud” during a press conference. When asked if he wanted to be the face of track and field, Tebogo said he wasn’t like Lyles—laid-back, humble, and not “arrogant or loud.” Fast forward six months, and suddenly Tebogo’s ego seems to have grown faster than his 200m time. Funny how things change, huh? The track and field community definitely took note, and let’s just say, they weren’t afraid to choke on that irony.

Confidence or just too much time on his hands before the line

Letsile Tebogo is all set to continue his 100m quest for glory in the Wanda Diamond League, heading to Shanghai/Keqiao on May 3 for the second meeting of the season. But before we get too caught up in what’s next, let’s take a quick detour down memory lane to August 31, 2024. Track & Field Gazette dropped a throwback video of Tebogo’s 100m win at Rome’s Diamond League, where he clocked 9.87 seconds and had time to look around before cruising to the line. Yup, he was taking a victory lap before it was even over.

Tebogo left Christian Coleman (9.92) and Fred Kerley (9.95) trailing in his wake, and poor Marcell Jacobs finished last in 10.20 after pulling up to avoid injury. Tebogo was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll be over here winning, no big deal.’ And yes, he did win! But here’s the real kicker. It wasn’t just his time that got people talking—it was how he won it.

Coleman had a solid start, leading in the first half, but Tebogo? He was just warming up. By the time he hit full stride, Coleman might as well have been walking. And then, in a move that had people raising their eyebrows, Tebogo stretched out both arms like he was on a victory parade with 15 meters still to go. Like, buddy, did you just start your victory lap before crossing the line? He eased up, flashed a grin, and gave us the “W” sign. But of course, people couldn’t help but choke on their coffee at that moment.

The “W” pose and the way Tebogo slowed down before the finish line got the track world buzzing. Was it a flex or just the calm of a man who knew he was winning? Either way, it sparked a debate that had the track and field community talking.

Fans love Letsile Tebogo’s wins but not his victory dance

One fan commented, “He better not get too comfortable and start celebrating before he even reaches the finish line.” Another chimed in with, “I hate how he celebrates and slows down before the finish.” And of course, there was the classic, “Why does Tebogo always jubilate before he finishes the line?” It seems Tebogo’s celebration style isn’t winning over everyone, especially those who think you should keep it cool until you cross the line. Fair point—you’re still running, not done yet, right? But for Tebogo, it’s been a year of wins, so maybe a little victory dance is justified.

And speaking of victories, let’s not forget what Tebogo’s actually achieved. The man earned men’s track athlete of the year plus Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in any sport by winning the 200m at the Paris Games with an African record time of 19.46. That’s history-making stuff! But what was even more impressive was the way he carried himself. Before his Olympic final, Tebogo looked like he was in deep thought, taking a moment to breathe and glance up at the sky. Then, after the loud bang of the starter’s gun, he raced to a win. The quiet confidence was there, but it didn’t stop people from raising their eyebrows at his post-race swagger.

It’s also worth noting that Tebogo’s journey to greatness wasn’t a smooth ride. He started running barefoot in 2019—because, in many parts of Africa, that’s just the norm. “Running without shoes in Africa and in the poorer areas of the world is normal,” he said. And now, here he is, an Olympic champion. He’s shattered records and made his country proud. Still, while his wins are celebrated, his style—especially that mid-race confidence—has some fans scratching their heads. They might not love the celebration, but there’s no denying he’s earned the right to celebrate in his own way.

One fan added, “He better not get too c–ky—he could’ve easily done 9.6 seconds if he didn’t slow down… but hey, who am I to say?” Another commented, “Tebogo called Lyles arrogant, but this? This feels more egotistical.” Seems like some people think if he hadn’t slowed down at the end, he could’ve shaved a few more tenths off his time, maybe even hitting a 9.6. His all-time best record stands at 9.86 seconds so his speed indicates no lack of effort or performance.

Fans anticipate more fire from Tebogo’s upcoming 2025 season because following such an outstanding 2024 performance, he should try for another gold medal win. With the proper combination of his newfound confidence and competitive running, the upcoming season could bring major success. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see if he’s going to break more records or give us another victory lap with a little extra attitude!