Can Noah Lyles ever be the top dog? The world of track and field is defined by intense competition. For sprinters, the pressure increases with the number of prolific runners all vying for the top spot. While the 2024 Olympic Games have concluded, fans have yet to decide who is most likely to carry forward the torch from the iconic Usain Bolt. Despite his emphatic feat in the French capital last month, Lyles isn’t the first choice for many.

In Paris, Lyles secured his first gold medal on the grandest stage by defeating Jamaican juggernaut Kishane Thompson in the men’s 100m dash. Naturally, fans hoped to see him replicate this success in the 200m final. However, Lyles was emphatically subdued by Letsile Tebogo, and one Olympic veteran believes the Botswanian sprinter will be the obstacle that prevents the American from taking Bolt’s throne.

Noah Lyles receives a reality check

In an episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist sprinter Justin Gatlin was heard talking about why fans shouldn’t keep their eggs in the Lyles basket when it comes to the 400m race. In the YouTube upload from September 12, Gatlin and the host of the show Rodney Green noted Noah’s superiority in the 100m and 200m events and speculated he can defend both his Olympic and World Championships titles at the next World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next year. But Green thinks Lyles would do good not to set his sights on the 400m at any cost.

“Noah better leave that 400 alone; I’m gonna try to tell him that,” said Green, and Gatlin seemed to reluctantly be on the same page with his colleague. Green went on to claim that if Lyles wants to “solidify dominance“, he needs to go back to the shorter distances and defend his achievements for the fans to recognize him as a force to be reckoned with. On the other hand, Gatlin had a cautionary message for the recently crowned World’s Fastest Man.

“You never follow your enemies into their territory…you never follow your enemies into their territory,” said the four-time World Championships gold medalist. Gatlin proceeded to explain his thoughts further. “What I mean by that is let Tebogo do Tebogo. You just prepare yourself for whatever events is to come the 100 meters or the 200 meters,” Gatlin said. But is Tebogo truly the Behemoth that Gatlin and Green make him to be? Or is Lyles yet to tap into his true powers for the world to behold?

Lyles’ big dreams crushed

Ahead of the 33rd Olympic Games, Lyles had been making big claims about his goals for the tournament. The 27-year-old made it clear that he would fly to Paris to claim Usain Bolt’s coveted spot by winning the prestigious sprint double. After his victory in the 100m, many believed Lyles’ prediction was about to come true, especially with the 200m being his specialty. However, Lyles faced an unexpected defeat as Tebogo became the first-ever African sprinter to win gold in the event. Moments after the race, fans learned that Noah ran with COVID-19, which significantly affected his performance.

In the post-race interview, Tebogo even took a sly dig at Lyles’ eccentric personality and underscored that he’s willing to hold his ground against the latter. But with another track and field season coming up, will Lyles be able to take the fight to Tebogo? Or will Tebogo’s lost mother continue to supply him with all the determination to continue his winning streak in the coming days? Only time will tell!