Noah Lyles’ absence from the Diamond League has turned the spotlight on a new personality that has gotten the track and field community in a frenzy! Letsile Tebogo, the Botswanan sprinter who won the Gold in 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been keeping up his winning streak. He lit up the League tracks with a 19.55-second finish in the 200m at Zurich. The world is next set to see him at the finals in Brussels on September 13 and 14. But despite the upcoming killer race, Tebogo’s name has been the name on the headlines for other reasons!

As the way of the world goes, with great speed comes great scrutiny! It isn’t Letsile Tebogo’s speed that has gotten social media in a chokehold! It is his antics that have gotten fans to draw comparisons between Letsile and Lyles. The comparison game kicked off when Tebogo took to social media and wrote, “If you take something from me it should be notes.” While many saw this as a stroke of confidence, others could not help but notice the parallels between Tebogo and Lyles.

As Tebogo went on to celebrate his laurels with Kenyan athletes Mary Moraa and Beatrice Chebet, fans on X began weighing in. It wasn’t long before fans decided to keep Tebogo’s attitude in check. One of the fans went on to say, “Deserved, remain humble though brother.” While another said, “Chill bro, raise your levels quietly and remain focused. Do not spend time engaging the real and imaginary detractors like the yapping Noah Lyles & the rest.” Oof! It is safe to say, fans were quick to remind Tebogo to stay grounded. But the fandom saga is far from over!

Bold Reactions to Tebogo’s Personality and Pre-Race Antics

A recent video of Letsile warming up emerged on X! And no doubt, the army was on their toes. One fan did not hold back and went on to say, “I didn’t realize he was MORE annoying than Noah Lyles.” Ouch! While some do see Lestsile Tebogo as a much-needed fresh face in sports. Others seem to be already in fatigue. Comments range from the tongue-in-cheek “Ok, Noah 2.0,” to more concerned notes like, “Pride is a killer!!” suggesting that Tebogo’s self-assured persona might be his downfall!

One fan seeing the authenticity even pleaded, “Please, please, please can this be the guy we focus on from now on and not all that fake shit from Noah Lyles.” Yet, despite it all, as much as the world loves him, fans are quick to remind him that humility is mandatory. Letsile Tebogo’s antics are also keeping the online fan entertained and opinionated!

One fan couldn’t help but call his warm-up moves “cringe”. The fan went on to add, “If it was that American guy, they’d be clowning him for that.” Another fan, not buying into the hype wagon went on to say, “He’ll lose today.” Amidst all the noise, there are some who are living for the adrenaline of it! “We are ready for the showdown,” remarked one fan. With Brussels up next, can Tebogo toe the line between confidence and arrogance? The track world waits holding their breaths!