Nineteen minutes, forty-seven seconds. That was last year’s standout time in the 200 meters. And guess who clocked it? It was Noah Lyles, the Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters! Everyone expected him to dominate again this year, especially after he ran a season-best of 19.53 seconds before the Olympics. But then the Paris Olympics hit, and boom, everything changed. Letsile Tebogo burst onto the scene and proved that African athletes can be legends too.

21-year-old Letsile Tebogo from Botswana shocked everyone in the men’s 200m final at the Olympics, snagging gold with an incredible time of 19.46 seconds—just 0.01 seconds off last year’s season best! This win is historic for Botswana, as it’s their first-ever Olympic gold medal and their third medal overall. Meanwhile, American stars Kenny Bednarek, Noah Lyles, and Erriyon Knighton finished in a familiar 2-3-4 lineup, just like in Tokyo.

And since then a month has passed away, but the conversation is still buzzing, especially after Track and Field Gazette dropped the men’s 200m 2024 top list on X, which includes 10 spots. Leading the charge is Letsile Tebogo, marking a powerful finish to his 2024 endeavors so far. But here’s the kicker: seven out of the ten athletes are from the USA! Crazy, right?

In the second place, we have Noah Lyles, who ran an impressive 19.53 seconds at the Paris Olympics U.S. Trials on June 29, smashing the Olympic Trials record of 19.66 seconds set by Michael Johnson way back in 1996. Coming in third is Kenneth Bednarek, who clocked 19.57 seconds at the Diamond League meet in Zurich on September 5. And let’s not forget about Courtney Lindsey, who set a new personal best of 19.71 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on April 20, 2024.

In fifth place is Tarsis Gracious Orogot from Uganda, with a personal best of 19.75 seconds at the Percy Beard Track in Gainesville on May 11, 2024. Right behind him in sixth is Erriyon Knighton with a time of 19.77 seconds at Hayward Field, Eugene, on June 29, 2024. Fred Kerley takes seventh with 19.81 seconds at Letzigrund, Zurich, on September 5, 2024. In eighth, Alexander Ogando posted 19.86 seconds at Stadion Sląski in Chorzow on August 25, 2024. Christian Coleman comes in ninth with a time of 19.89 seconds at Hayward Field on June 29, 2024.

In tenth place, Kyree King matched 19.90 seconds, also at Hayward Field. Finally, Ryan Zeze tied with King, posting the same 19.90 seconds for a shared 10th position. Despite his impressive gold medal win in the 200m, Letsile Tebogo dismissed suggestions that he could be the new face of athletics like Noah Lyles.

Letsile Tebogo aims to inspire future generations while pursuing his dreams

After claiming the 200m gold medal in Paris, Letsile Tebogo was quickly compared to Noah Lyles. He was asked questions about whether he aspired to become the new face of track and field. The 21-year-old was quick to dismiss the idea, downplaying any comparisons to Lyles. “I can’t be the face of athletics as I’m not a loud or arrogant person like Noah,” Tebogo remarked, humbly brushing off the notion of stardom. Despite his modesty, Tebogo has high hopes for his future, which makes us believe he can be a rising force in the sport.

Tebogo has set his sights on an even bigger haul in 2025. Tebogo is determined to chase gold in not just the 100m and 200m but also the men’s 4x400m relay at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. He told Runner Space that his goal is to win all the gold medals, but he’ll have to carefully assess the schedule to plan his season effectively.

Despite his young age, Tebogo feels the pressure to make history sooner rather than later, driving his ambitious plans for 2025. But it hasn’t been an easy road—balancing expectations and chasing greatness comes with its own set of challenges. Letsile Tebogo lost his mother earlier this year, which lit a fire under him to leave a lasting legacy and inspire the next generation of athletes.

Despite the emotional toll, Tebogo claimed five Diamond League victories in Monaco, Lausanne, Silesia, Rome, and Zurich, as well as Olympic gold in the 200m and silver in the men’s 4x400m relay in Paris. Although he finished second at the Diamond League final in Brussels, behind Kenny Bednarek, Tebogo expressed pride in ending his season on a high note. Now, he is hopeful for even greater success in the coming year.