Reigning Olympic 200m champ Letsile Tebogo was hoping to finish his season on a high note at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels, but it didn’t quite go as planned. He faced off against a strong American field, and while Tebogo was expected to shine, it was Kenny Bednarek who stole the spotlight. Bedanrek’s outstanding performance from the beginning of the race gave him an advantage over Tebogo; despite Tebogo’s work and efforts, he had to accept second place in the end.

Bednarek impressed the audience by clocking a time of 19.67 seconds to win the race, while Tebogo came in behind at 19.80 seconds. Alexander Ogando also put on a performance and secured third place with a time of 19.97 seconds. However, Bedarek had been striving for this victory after coming in races, so it was a well-deserved moment for him. His solid start was crucial to his success. On the other hand, Letsile Tebogo, who had hoped for the race, was disappointed with how things turned out.

Since Letsile Tebogo clinched gold in the 200m at the Olympics, his attitude has drawn comparisons to Noah Lyles. This debate started two days back when Tebogo posted on X, “If you take something from me, it should be notes.” While some interpreted this as a confident statement, others quickly saw parallels between Tebogo’s brashness and Lyles’ flamboyant persona.

Well, Kenyan athletes were quick to weigh in. Some praised his achievements but urged him to stay humble, with one fan commenting, “Deserved, remain humble though brother.” Another advised, “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.” Clearly, fans were eager to remind Letsile Tebogo to keep his feet on the ground despite his rising star. But hence, he did fall, and this time again, fans were quick to chime in after he faced defeat.

Kenny Bednarek shines, but Lesile Tebogo sparks buzz

As the season wraps up, the track community has been buzzing with praise for Kenny Bednarek. One fan expressed their support, saying, “KUNG FU KENNY THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN YOU. Fantastic season from him, broke his PB twice and is the Diamond League Champion.” Bednarek, who had previously won a silver medal behind Tebogo at the Paris Games, defeated Tebogo in Brussels, earning a $30,000 winner’s cheque.

Going into Brussels, Letsile Tebogo was 8-0 in his career against Bednarek, according to Tilastopaja. Bednarek, also a Diamond League Final champion in 2021, is now tied as the eighth-fastest man in history. He set a personal best of 19.57 seconds at a Diamond League meet in Zurich on September 5.

Another comment read, “Team USA finna have 4 200m guys next year at the Tokyo WC 🔥,” highlighting the growing strength in American sprinting. The World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 will take place from September 13-21 at the Japan National Stadium. This fan is optimistic that Bednarek, with his impressive performances, could be a key part of Team USA’s lineup for the event.

There’s also potential for Knighton to rediscover his early-season form from 2022, when he ran 19.49 seconds. In the 100m, Kenny’s personal best and season best are both 9.87 seconds. Notably, Letsile Tebogo’s personal best in the 200m is 19.46 seconds, and his best in the 100m stands at 9.86 seconds.

One more fan added, “Congratulations, Bednarek! Tebogo couldn’t reel him in this time.” Another fan remarked, “Tebogo is no Bolt. I had a feeling Bednarek would get him.” These comments show the track and field community’s mixed reactions: while Bednarek’s impressive performance is celebrated, there’s also a sense of disappointment regarding Tebogo’s efforts.