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TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 03: Noah Lyles of Team United States reacts after competing in the Men’s 200m Semi Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1332126766.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 03: Noah Lyles of Team United States reacts after competing in the Men’s 200m Semi Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
“I am not part of the team that is chasing the world record. For now, is just keep on rolling”, since conceding that remark, Letsile Tebogo has been rolling and if you have heard the quote, “A rolling stone gathers no moss”, then you can decipher how he has been rolling. As the 21-year-old athlete mentioned, he has no intention of chasing the world records, but he has never barred the possibility of chasing Noah Lyles, the prominent one to chase those top records. So in that chasing, Letsile has registered another 200m fine timing today as in the Monaco Diamond League, he completed his race being the top.
As per the final recordings, he took 19.87 seconds (+0.6) to take his victory. However, the 200m event in the men’s category didn’t witness any big names as Noah Lyles had already withdrawn from the race beforehand. But that may not belittle the Botswana sprinter’s performance. Eventually, his today’s flare poses to be his second 200m timings in the world-lead list chart of top ten this season. Noah is still shining at the top with 19.53 seconds (+0.5), made two weeks ago. Even so, Letsile’s best effort of the season is only 0.18 seconds behind, so it’s not all bad news. And now today’s timing is surely going to sharpen the challenge against the American champion. And such a performance has come after Letsile faced a personal loss.
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Tebogo-Letsile.jpg?width=150&blur=15)
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He started the Paris Olympic season with all guns blazing, as s perfect challenger to Noah Lyles’ reigning. He exemplified that run in February when he claimed the 300m world record, achieved in 30.69 seconds. In the 200m and 400m events as well, he left his mark by winning several contests. But coming to May, Letsile Tebogo lost his mother, Seratiwa Tebogo.
Notably, his mother had played an inspirational role to the former African champion, both on and off the track. So the blow proved to be heavy for him as he took an off from several contests in that duration. But upon coming back, he didn’t let any mark settle on his armor. A few days ago, he faced a defeat to Kishane Thompson in the 100m event of the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix. But today he proved that he is not going to move away from his chances of making it staggering in the 200m event.
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Noah Lyles finds Letsile Tebogo on the same route linked to the glory
Noah Lyles has to dethrone Usain Bolt from the 100m and 200m world record lists. In the 100m race, he has many more opponents who might create roadblocks for him in Paris. But the 26-year-old athlete holds the 200m event much closer to his heart because of the sweet bonding.
In the Tokyo Olympics, Noah Lyles hopped into the third position to take the bronze medal in the 200m event. That earning gives him additional motivation to keep everything at stake to change the medal’s color. And Usain Bolt’s record is also there to boost him further. “He was the fastest man ever to do it, and soon, it’ll be me”, he said to CNN, keeping that in mind. Noah Lyles’ effort to take top timing this season proved that as well. But Letsile Tebogo is not inching behind.
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What’s your perspective on:
Is Letsile Tebogo the next big threat to Noah Lyles' dominance in track and field?
Have an interesting take?
Coming to this season, he said, “We have a better chance in the 200, I want to believe” Establishing that probability, he claimed the podium rankings in each of his 200m events this year. Moreover, he has several things to settle with Noah Lyles on the track.
Last year, in the Budapest World Athletics Championships, Noah defeated Letsile Tebogo while winning the gold medal in the 100m event. In the 200m final, he had the same outcome as he was pushed to the third position by Noah and Erriyon Knighton. Therefore, the upcoming days have a high chance to witness the fiery battle of these sprinters. However, the fun will be all yours!
Debate
Is Letsile Tebogo the next big threat to Noah Lyles' dominance in track and field?