In an atmosphere thick with anticipation ahead of the relays, Letsile Tebogo has chosen not to play coy. Rather than sidestep expectations or soften his outlook, he has sharpened the edge. Tebogo’s warning did not come in isolation. It was issued on the back of a rejuvenated campaign, marked by visible progress after a difficult spring riddled with injury. His victory in Doha, where he narrowly held off Courtney Lindsey, hinted at his latent speed. Though he nearly compromised the win by looking over his shoulder, the message was clear. And his bold confession might leave other track phenoms in warning bell!
Letsile Tebogo aimed it squarely at those who may have doubted Botswana’s readiness. “If they don’t want the gold,” Tebogo said plainly, “I’ll go for it.” With that, he signaled a serious threat to the United States and every nation watching. Even with flaws, he can win. Then came Rabat, a setback, where a troublesome knee halted his momentum and forced his withdrawal from the 200m. What followed, however, left no doubt about his return. At the Prefontaine Classic, Tebogo delivered a scorching 19.76 seconds in the 200m, the fastest of the year. More important than the time was the context. He had been away from serious training for six weeks.
It was in this renewed posture. Firm, upright, and plainly confident, Tebogo spoke about his nation’s 4x400m relay team. “We don’t need to say much,” he said in an interview with Real Talk With Tee. “We say everything in Tokyo.” Reflecting on the Botswana squad’s showing at the World Relays, he made a pointed observation, “They should be scared, because that was more like Team B for us.” According to him, the regular lineup, featuring Udo, Colin, Scotch, and himself, is now healthy and sharpening for Paris. “We don’t know who’s going to do which leg, but we’ll see how it goes,” he said, before reasserting the goal. “Definitely we are going for gold. I’m the one who told them I’m going for gold,” echoed a resilient Tebogo.
“THEY SHOULD BE SCARED” when it comes to Botswana 4×400
– Letsile Tebogo #trackandfield #botswana #explore pic.twitter.com/Iful6X39Vx
— Tee (@realtalkwithtee) July 9, 2025
That was no offhand comment. Tebogo has spoken with the conviction of someone who remembers being dismissed. “Even those who ruled me out,” he added, “I’m back like I never left.” Surely, his recent season results, a solid win in Gaborone, a respectable rebound in Shaoxing, and improved fitness throughout, support his claim. But it is the emotional steadiness behind the words that makes them resonate. The field may be deep, but Tebogo no longer sees himself as the outsider. And the rest of the world, by his telling, ought to take notice. And he has a golden opportunity to prove himself further. Tebogo is setting up for an epic face-off against Noah Lyles.
Noah Lyles to face Letsile Tebogo test as Monaco showdown threatens 200m reign
Noah Lyles has never taken Monaco lightly. It was here, amid the warm July winds and compact bends, that he first carved out his Diamond League identity. Now, with his record of nine consecutive 200 m victories on the line, the setting feels less familiar. This time, he meets Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic champion, African record-holder, and, more crucially, the man who has beaten him twice in as many tries.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 200m Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 08, 2024. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana crosses the line to win gold ahead of second place Kenneth Bednarek of United States and third place Noah Lyles of United States. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Their rivalry has intensified not through declarations but through the scoreboard. Lyles, who removed all content from his social media accounts earlier this week, has not spoken publicly since Paris, where he settled for bronze while Tebogo soared. His silence contrasts sharply with Tebogo’s measured confidence. After the Olympic final, Tebogo said plainly, “I knew if I got the bend right, the rest would come.” That assessment held weight in both rounds against Lyles, whose signature finish never quite arrived. More telling is the pattern. In the last eight times Lyles ran the 200 m, he bettered Tebogo’s current world lead of 19.76 s only twice.
With the Prefontaine Classic now firmly in Tebogo’s column and the psychological edge leaning his way, the Monaco race functions as more than a fixture. It becomes the litmus test for Lyles’ status. No longer is he chasing records or reputations. Rather, he is chasing ground. The last time he crossed the line ahead of Tebogo was nearly two years ago. Since then, the young sprinter from Botswana has only grown sharper. What Lyles brings to the track on July 11 will not be judged by time alone. It will be judged by whether he can reassert himself against the one rival who, so far, has not blinked.
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