The 2024 track and field season was full of surprises, but it was rare to witness any athlete challenging Noah Lyles. Indeed, the American sprinter was so fast not only in the 100m but also in the 200m that he became the fan favorite for the campaign. However, only Letsile Tebogo from Botswana gave Lyles a run for his money when he defeated him at the Paris Olympics’ 200m finals.

The 21-year-old, though, didn’t stop his track and field season after the Olympic Games as he proceeded to dominate the grid in other events. Indeed, his goal was to win the Diamond League crown in the same distance where he earned his first Olympic gold, but he was unable to secure the accolade he desired in Brussels. However, Tebogo has announced his participation in the DL’s inaugural race, marking the start of the 2025 season and a chance for redemption for the Batswana athlete!

Concerns might be piling up for the 200m world champion

While it was Kenny Bednarek who defeated Letsile Tebogo in Brussels, not letting him grab that 200-meter DL crown, Noah Lyles should be concerned. Indeed, he’s a defending world champion in the 100m and the 200m, heading towards the Tokyo World Championships in 2025. And guess who will be participating in that event? Yes, it will be the major event for the upcoming campaign, and the Botswana athlete is looking forward to it, as the other events of the season will serve as a fantastic preparation for him.

However, the Diamond League events will be more than just a training ground for him, as he will also be aiming to reclaim the crown that Bednarek stole from him in 2024. There’s a lot of time for this year’s DL finals, but Tebogo will be firing himself up early. Taking to Instagram, the Xiamen Diamond League has announced that the 21-year-old will be gracing the crowd in the Chinese city, as he’s confirmed to run in the 200-meter race. Indeed, this particular distance is something that he has mastered by claiming the Olympic title, but he will be looking forward to more.

But how much time do the fans have to wait to witness the Batswana athlete race? There are still 100 days until the event on January 16, which gives Tebogo ample time to prepare himself. For now, it’s unsure if he will be participating in any other events prior to the outdoor season, but the track and field community can expect a lot heading into the 2025 season. Since he’s one of the biggest rivals for Lyles in the upcoming campaign, how has he been in the 200-meter distance against the American runner?

Comparing Noah Lyles with his Batswana rival

In their whole careers, Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo have shared the 200-meter grid four times. While this may seem insignificant, the fact that Letsile Tebogo made his professional debut significantly later than Lyles raises serious concerns for the American sprinter. Indeed, their battles in the 200-meter distance have left them tied with a score of 2-2.

For the first time, both of them met at the London Diamond League, where Lyles won the race with a time of 19.47 seconds, followed by Tebogo in second with a time of 19.50 seconds. The same goes for the Budapest World Championships, where the American claimed his 200m title, but the Batswana managed to secure a podium finish as he settled for third place.

However, 2024 was interesting because Tebogo was absolutely dominant in the 200 m. Before the Olympic Games, the athletes had never faced each other, but when they did, the Batswana runner emerged victorious twice, once in the semifinals of the 200m at the Paris Olympics and again in the finals of the same event. Indeed, he grabbed his career-first Olympic gold medal with pride and a statement that he will be the next big thing that Lyles should be concerned about.