Courtney Lindsey stormed to victory in the men’s 200m at the Rabat Diamond League. But the American sprinter didn’t look like a satisfied man. Despite clocking a season-best 20.04 seconds on Sunday night, Lindsey’s post-race reaction was anything but celebratory. With Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo skipping the race after a shock last-place finish in the 100m earlier that evening, the stage was wide open. Lindsey seized the moment but walked away feeling the performance hadn’t lived up to his own standards.
He may have crossed the line first, but Lindsey wasn’t chasing medals in Rabat. He was chasing time. “I am feeling great for this victory and for achieving my Season Best, though my objective was to get better timing,” Lindsey said after the race. “The race was fast, but I was expecting it to be faster,” he further added. Even with a clear win under his belt, Lindsey was already looking ahead.
“After the meeting of today, I will go back home to prepare for my next meeting in Rome, where my goal is to get the first position and achieve better timing,” Lindsey chimed in. Surely, there’s a sharp edge to Lindsey’s ambition that sets him apart. The absence of Tebogo may have made the path to the top of the podium easier, but it didn’t make the result any more satisfying for Lindsey.
Courtney Lindsey wins #RabatDL 200m ahead of Joseph Fahnbulleh and Fred Kerley.
Letsile Tebogo was a scratch after running 10.43 for 9th in the 100m. pic.twitter.com/ayYCyvne1x
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) May 25, 2025
He wasn’t interested in winning by default. He wanted to test himself against the best and run faster. And while he appreciated the roaring Moroccan crowd, he left the track already mentally preparing for his next challenge. “I would like to thank the crowd for their support, they were super loud and very supportive. Also, the stadium is beautiful and the atmosphere is fantastic,” he added.
With the Rome Diamond League next on his schedule, Lindsey has no intention of slowing down. His win in Rabat might read like a breakthrough on paper, but in his eyes, it was just a stepping stone. The real race, the one he’s chasing against the clock and his expectations, has only just begun. Meanwhile, this win was also a special moment for Lindsey. After all, how can he forget the recent disrespect from Letsile Tebogo!
Letsile Tebogo’s bold glance in Doha fires up Lindsey’s ruthless Rabat revenge
Letsile Tebogo didn’t just look over his shoulder in Doha. He made a statement. But it almost backfired. With the finish line in sight during the men’s 200m at the Diamond League opener in Qatar, the Olympic champion’s cheeky glance toward Lane 8, where Courtney Lindsey was storming down the straight, came within 0.01 seconds of costing him the win. It wasn’t a quick peek.
It was calculated, bordering on dismissive. And Lindsey nearly made him pay for it. Tebogo eased up as he crossed the line in 20.10. Lindsey, coming in hot, finished in 20.11. The gap? As narrow as Tebogo’s grin. While he later admitted, “I’m just happy to be healthy and back in shape,” there was little acknowledgment of how dangerously close he came to losing.
The body language told a different story. A champion unbothered, or perhaps, overconfident. For Lindsey, it wasn’t just a near miss. It was fuel. Cut to the next chapter. Two weeks later in Rabat, Tebogo was nowhere near the 200m starting blocks. Lindsey lined up again. And this time, without a glance in sight, he took the win with ease. The American got his moment, while Tebogo faded in the 100m, finishing dead last.
His decision to skip the 200m only amplified the drama. Whether it was injury, strategy, or avoidance, it left the spotlight wide open for Lindsey. And this time, there was no one easing up, no one looking back.
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