Just when we thought the chase for Usain Bolt’s legendary 200m world record couldn’t get any more thrilling, a new twist has emerged. Noah Lyles, who has been vocal and determined in his pursuit of Bolt’s 19.19-second benchmark, famously declared, “I’m running 19.10,” sparking excitement and skepticism alike. Armed with a 19.31-second personal best, Lyles has consistently positioned himself as the man to dethrone the sprinting king.

However, a recent bronze medal performance in the Paris Olympics, where he finished third behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, cast doubt on whether Lyles is truly the heir to Bolt’s throne. What makes this narrative even more fascinating is Tebogo’s evolving stance on the record chase. Initially, the Botswana sprinter distanced himself from the pressure of breaking Bolt’s record, opting to let Lyles shoulder the burden. Moreover, Tebogo’s recent statements have ignited the fire and provoked fans to compare the two and take sides.

Speaking on Lyles’ claims of breaking Bolt’s world records, Tebogo remarked, “Take me out of that world record conversation because I don’t want that pressure… Let (Noah) Lyles speak about the world record.” But now, fresh off his 200m Olympic gold with a blazing 19.46 seconds, Tebogo seems to have had a change of heart. Echoing the same spirit as Lyles he recently quipped, “I don’t think it will take me long to break the 200m World Record, it’s about 10 meters away from me!”

Now, as the track and field community catches wind of Tebogo’s sudden shift in tone, the comparisons to Lyles have been swift and sharp. The race for greatness is turning out to be rather complex and crowded. Moreover, confidence speaks volumes about an athlete in today’s time. And suddenly it seems Tebogo is now singing a tune eerily similar to Lyles’, raising the stakes even higher.

Another factor too catalyzed Tebogo’s claims. The Jamaican legend’s former coach Glen Mills threw his weight behind Tebogo. Bolt’s coach has been predicting that it’s Botswan’s Tebogo, not Lyles, who might actually break the seemingly unbreakable record. However, fans do not seem to take the claims lightly.

Fans express bewilderment as Letsile Tebogo claims to topple Bolt’s record following Lyles’ footsteps

One track enthusiast unapologetically stated, “Sounding like Noah now”. The fan referred to Letsile Tebogo’s recent shift in attitude towards breaking Usain Bolt’s 200m world record. Initially, Tebogo distanced himself from the pressure of chasing the record, leaving it to Noah Lyles, who had boldly claimed he would break it. And his change in stance gave grounds for criticism.

Another user threw light on the fact that before claiming to break Usain Bolt’s 19.19-second 200m world record, Tebogo needs to first match or surpass the achievements of Noah Lyles (19.31 seconds) and Yohan Blake (19.26 seconds). The comment read, “He has to go 19.31 and then 19.26 first to be talking 19.19”.

Critiquing Letsile Tebogo’s ability to surpass Usain Bolt’s 200m world record compared to Noah Lyles, one fan commented, “He doesn’t have that top end speed like Noah I don’t see it happening”. It implies that Tebogo might lack the finishing power that Lyles possesses, which could be crucial for breaking the record. 

Another X user spoke in a different light and supported Tebogo. The fan suggested that despite the trolling, many fans and experts, including Usain Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills, actually support Letsile Tebogo in his pursuit of the 200m world record. They wrote, “They won’t, they’re all quite supportive of him from what I’ve seen… and Glen Mills is on record saying he thinks Tebogo will get it too”.

With two supremely talented sprinters now eyeing Bolt’s record, the track world is abuzz, eagerly awaiting who will actually rise to the occasion. What are your thoughts on this rivalry?