So, what’s Noah Lyles up to these days? Soon, you might find yourself asking just that. Almost a month ago, Lyles snagged the Olympic gold in the 100 meters. This win was a big deal, ending a 20-year streak where Team USA hadn’t topped the men’s 100-meter final and breaking Jamaica’s long-standing hold on the event. In doing so, Lyles sprinted to victory in the 100-meter race, with 9.784 seconds clocked in Paris; however, in the 200-meter event, Noah Lyles secured the third position, finishing in 19.70 seconds, while Letsile Tebogo clinched the gold medal with an impressive 19.46 seconds timing. Yet Tebogo seems determined to continue striving for more success without slowing down.

Letsile Tebogo is determined to win more titles and shows no signs of giving up on his goal. Recently, he triumphed in the 100 meters at the Diamond League event in Rome with a time of 9.87 seconds, even throwing a playful glance at his competitors before crossing the finish line. Christian Coleman, who did not qualify for the Paris Games US team, came in second with a time of 9.92 seconds, while Fred Kerley, the bronze medalist in Paris, finished third in Rome with a time of 9.95 seconds. But the current talk of the town is Noah Lyles! He was absent from this competition. It has certainly caught people’s attention.

On September 7th, during a “Ready Set Go” podcast on YouTube, the host had a chance to chat with Justin Gatlin. The host inquired about Letsile Tebogo, “Do you think that gold medal and the way he’s been running and the way he’s been receiving praise from his country, does that inject him with newfound confidence for him to do better?” Gatlin’s response to this question was quite interesting.

Gatlin said, “I think for me, the defining factors—those two things that were the defining factors for me—when he was a junior, or real junior athlete… age-wise, he is still a junior athlete. But when he was a real junior athlete… he had his little thing happen with the Jamaican top sprinter, and he went out there in the finals… when it comes to, like, conflict? He’s that kind of person that he’s going to get out there and resolve it like he’s going to get out there and race you for it. He’s hungry for it; he ain’t going back down.” It’s true—despite being just 21, Tebogo’s drive and determination are clearly evident.

Tebogo’s athletic journey began early, winning a silver medal in the 200 meters at the BOPSSA when he was just 12. By 17, he gained international recognition at the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Poland and the World Under-20 Championships in Kenya, where he won the 100 meters and took silver in the 200 meters.

Gatlin further added, “The second thing was when he lost his mom, you know what I’m saying? That was a defining moment for me cause like he could have packed up and gone home, bro, and nobody would have asked him questions. Nothing would have been like, ‘See you 2025, bro.'” Tebogo’s mom, Seratiwa Tebogo, has been a huge part of his journey. Sadly, he lost her in 2024 after a brief illness, getting the heartbreaking news right after he finished second at the USATF LA Grand Prix in May. Even though he was grieving, he decided to push through and compete in the Paris Olympics this year.

Gatlin further added, “Rest up until your day. But the fact that he doubled down, came back… There are two kinds of winners: one that goes out, wins, and says, ‘I got the medal, job complete, that’s cool,’ and then you have athletes who go out there, get the medal, ‘But I want the legacy.’ So they keep on going; they keep dominating. And like right now, his talent pool is so deep, it’s like you don’t even know whatever he lines up in; be aware, be scared.” It’s an interesting point. Was Gatlin subtly hinting at Noah Lyles, especially since Lyles won a medal but hasn’t been competing recently? It makes you wonder if Gatlin was indirectly pointing out Lyles’ absence from the race scene.

Noah Lyles’ bold ambitions clash with his performance

Before the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles was vocal about his ambitions, repeatedly asserting that he would break Usain Bolt’s records. “In my head, I think I’m going to break it, but everybody else has their own opinions,” Lyles stated confidently. Despite his bold claims, he fell short at the Games. Actually, Lyles captured the gold in the 100 meters with a time of 9.79 seconds, earning the title of “world’s fastest man.” After seeing his name on the scoreboard, Lyles claimed, “Seeing that name, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there it is!'” But this was still shy of Bolt’s 9.58-second world record set 15 years ago.

Lyles had another chance to challenge Bolt’s legacy in the 200 meters, but he came up short again, finishing third with a time of 19.70 seconds in Paris. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won gold with a time of 19.46 seconds, and Kenneth Bednarek of the USA took silver with 19.62 seconds. The 200 meters is Lyles’ signature event, where he’s ranked number one globally.

After the race, he required medical attention and was later seen in a wheelchair. His mother revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 just two days before the event. Despite his illness, Lyles chose to compete, which may have affected his performance. Since then, he’s been taking it easy, spending time with his girlfriend and at home, and hasn’t participated in any further races. This situation led some to speculate that Justin Gatlin might have indirectly referenced Lyles in his comments on the podcast. What is your take on it?