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Chasing Bolt’s Legacy, Not Just Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo Sets Sights on 200m Record With ‘Better Chance’

ByAnchal Ahuja

Mar 31, 2024 | 11:39 AM EDT

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In the world of track and field, the pursuit of greatness often means following in the footsteps of legends. For Letsile Tebogo, a rising star in sprinting, that legend is none other than Usain Bolt. However, Tebogo’s ambitions extend beyond merely emulating Bolt; he is setting his sights on breaking the 200m record, believing he has a better chance than many before him.

Noah Lyles, a prominent figure in the world of sprinting, has often been compared to Usain Bolt due to his impressive speed. He sees Bolt not just as a benchmark, but as a source of motivation to reach new heights. Ultimately, Lyles’s thoughts on becoming the next Usain Bolt reflect a respect for the sport’s history. Now, after Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo also shared his training regimen and thoughts on chasing Bolt’s legacy in an exclusive interview.

Letsile Tebogo: Nimble footed Bostwanan looking to usurp Usain Bolt

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Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds and 200-meter record of 19.30 seconds, established in 2008, is seemingly out of reach for any current athlete. Currently, the sprinter capable of challenging Usain Bolt’s 200-meter record is American athlete Noah Lyles. In an interview with Forbes, Letsile Tebogo, being one of those athletes closest to Bolt’s records, shared, “⁠We have a better chance in the 200, I want to believe”. The 20-year-old explained the reason behind his decision, where he talked about the legend’s statement. Addressing his decision, he said, “Usain Bolt himself said in an interview that the 200-meter record might be the easier of the two, and I concur.”

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As for the 400m, Tebogo ran his personal best with a time of 44.30 seconds, that too recently. He concluded, “For now, I am just going to focus on 100m and 200m and then later is when I will try and convert to the 400m”. However, Lyles clocked an impressive time of 19.31 seconds in 2022. He is expected to be the favorite in both the 200 meters and possibly the 100 meters at the upcoming Paris Olympics. But recently the remarkable performances by Tebogo seem to challenge Noah’s records with every step closer to the Olympics.

Noah Lyles vs Letsile Tebogo: a survival of the fittest

Noah Lyles has time and again ushered change on the stomping grounds with his dream to take over Bolt’s record. This is because after finishing third in the 2021 Olympics, Lyles has not lost any 200-meter race. “He was the fastest man ever to do it”, before this with a little smile Lyles said, “and soon, it’ll be me” on CNN. Getting closer to Bolt’s world records of 9.58 and 19.19–Lyles is third on the 200m all-time list with 19.31 and chasing to be number one in Paris Olympics 2024.

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Also, just a week before Letsile Tebogo clocked his best of 44.30 and shattered the 300m world record by recording a total of 30.69 at the Simbine Curro Classic. He said, “I am not part of the team that is chasing the world record. For now, is just keep on rolling.” The recent competition showcased another stellar performance from the world 100m silver and 200m bronze medalist. As both athletes look forward to gaining momentum as the world’s fastest man ‘Usain Bolt’, with every performance, they will be setting up records to shape their legacy.