Letsile Tebogo Ready to Let His Legs Do the Talking Against Noah Lyles at World Championships
As the world prepares for the athletics spectacle at the championships in Tokyo, Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo is poised to let his performance speak for itself in his highly anticipated clash with American sprinter Noah Lyles. The softly spoken Botswanan athlete, who made history by winning his country’s first Olympic gold medal in Paris last year, is ready for the spotlight, albeit with a humble approach.
Tebogo, known for his reserved demeanor, recently expressed his thoughts on Lyles, whom he described as “arrogant” after their previous encounter. The flamboyant American finished third in the Olympics and is no stranger to the media glare, often drawing attention with his bold personality. With the world championships set to kick off on Saturday, this rivalry is expected to captivate fans worldwide.
“I’m one person who always shies away from the media, but the sport forces me to step up,” said the 22-year-old Tebogo during a community event in Tokyo, where he engaged with children at a local primary school. “At the end of the day, it’s all about what do you want to see: to be in the spotlight or off the spotlight. For me, I choose off the spotlight and then just let my legs do the talking.”
In their most recent face-off at the Diamond League finals in Zurich, Lyles narrowly defeated Tebogo by two-hundredths of a second in the 200m. The two athletes are also scheduled to compete in the 100m event in Tokyo, adding another layer of excitement to their rivalry.
Tebogo, who is eager to secure his first world title after earning silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m at the Budapest championships two years ago, aims to keep his focus on personal performance rather than external pressures. “Once you invite pressure inside yourself, it means you are not doing it for yourself; you are doing it for the people,” he explained. “Yes, you should do it for the people, but it’s you first and then the people later.”
Reflecting on his journey, Tebogo has credited athletics with saving him from a life of crime and has become a global ambassador for the Kids Athletics development program. During his recent school visit, he demonstrated his commitment to inspiring young athletes by engaging in fun activities, including banging a traditional Japanese drum to kick off a relay race for about 100 children.
“I’m so excited to see how the Japanese relay culture works,” he said. “I believe we’re also going to have fun here.”
