Letsile Tebogo’s 2024 season has been nothing short of extraordinary. In a stacked 200m finals at the Stade de France, the Botswanan shocked the track and field world with his upset victory over the favorite, Noah Lyles. With his African record of 19.46 seconds, he snatched the title of Olympic Champion out of the American’s hand, who finished in 19.70 seconds instead. Since then, the 21-year-old has dominated the track during the ongoing Diamond League. 

As he prepares to contest at the finals taking place in Brussels, the Olympian’s subtle dig has caught many eyes. “It’s 2 Africans against the rest of the world!” he stated in the press conference. Amid a stacked lineup at Brussels, Joseph Fahnbulleh will be running alongside the Botswanan. He elaborated, “Because we had 3 Africans there [Olympic finals], and now it is 2. So I believe it’s going to be a good race on Saturday.” Could this have been a warning for the rest of his competitors? 

After his brilliant win at the French capital, Letsile Tebogo wasn’t ready to end his season yet. He kept claiming wins at Lausanne (19.64 seconds), Silesia (19.83 seconds), and Rome (9.87 seconds). Whether 100m or 200m, the 21-year-old consistently proved he’s not a one-hit-wonder. He was on to Zurich next, hoping to keep the momentum going. How did the Olympian fare amid a stacked line-up in the 200m dash? 

The Botswanan had to battle it out with Lyles’ compatriots Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton at the Zurich Diamond League on September 5. But even the chilly conditions couldn’t cease his chase for glory. The Olympian sprinted past the finish line in 19.55 seconds. The golden boy is looking to replicate the same result in Brussels. “It’s me and Joe, so I believe it will be an interesting race to see how Africans can do against the world.” It wouldn’t be surprising, given his prowess throughout the meet. 

But Letsile Tebogo wasn’t too pleased with his performance in Zurich. “Even though it wasn’t my one-hundred per cent, I think that at the finals, it is something that you will see.” With the finals slowly inching closer, he revealed what he intends to showcase in Brussels. “Today, I didn’t run the curve I only ran the home straight – but with the Olympic final, I ran throughout the whole race. That is something I will do at the Diamond League final because there is still more inside me.“ This has only raised the bar higher. 

Letsile Tebogo might have something in common with Noah Lyles

The Olympian’s power-packed performance on the track has turned heads, and rightfully so. But after clinching another gold in Zurich, the Botswanan let out another warning for his competitors. “If you take something from me, it should be notes,” he stated on X. While there’s nothing wrong with being confident about his impressive prowess throughout the meet, many fans weren’t too keen about this side of the 21-year-old. 

Why isn’t Noah Lyles contesting in the Diamond League, you ask? After his Olympic stint came to a crashing halt, the 27-year-old decided to step back and kick his feet up. The sprinter instead has been spotted at New York Fashion Week and the US Open. The American even hinted he wouldn’t compete any more this season. But with his absence, it looks like a new rivalry has come into play – America vs Botswana. How will this play out on Saturday? We will have to wait and watch.