How Noah Lyles Is Set To Fulfil Promise to Sprint Rival Letsile Tebogo

Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles after Olympic 200m final in Paris. (Credit Imago).

How Noah Lyles Is Set To Fulfil Promise to Sprint Rival Letsile Tebogo

Stephen Awino 15:30 - 17.04.2025

Olympic champion Noah Lyles is on course to fulfil a pormise made to sprint rival Letsile Tebogo.

American sprinter Noah Lyles is on track to fulfil a promise made to sprint rival, Botswana's Letsile Tebogo.

The two Olympic champions, who both medaled at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, are at the centre of a sprint rivalry based on their chase for dominance in the short sprints.

Lyles claimed gold in the 100m at the Summer Games, while Tebogo returned the favour in the 200m, claiming gold in one of the American's favourite events as he settled for third behind fellow countryman Kenny Bednarek.

However, Tebogo also took to the track for the longer sprints, anchoring Team Botswana to silver in the 4x400m behind Team USA, anchored by Rai Benjamin, who claimed gold.

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Lyles' Promise to Tebogo to Tackle The 400m

Olympic Champions Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles
Olympic Champions Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles.

Lyles has previously admitted that this showdown between Tebogo and Benjamin had sparked a desire in him to tackle the 400m, with Lyles making a promise to Tebogo on the matter.

"I gotcha. You (Letsile Tebogo) and @Kingben (Rai Benjamin) made that 4x4 look so fun!" wrote Lyles previously in March, referencing the showdown when Tebogo encouraged him to tackle the 400m, as he had earlier expressed in a tweet.

"Did a 400m workout yesterday and I’m not gonna lie… I think I need to run a 400 soon," Lyles had previously written on X.

"You can do it. Will be waiting for the feedback," replied Tebogo.

Lyles Follows Up On Promise To Tebogo

Letsile Tebogo, Erriyon Knighton, and Noah Lyles after the Olympic 200m final.
Letsile Tebogo, Erriyon Knighton, and Noah Lyles after the Olympic 200m final. (Credit: Imago).

Lyles seems to have made good on that promise, as he is now poised to tackle the distance this weekend, as previously reported by Pulse Sports.

The double world champion will run the 400m at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida on Saturday, April 19.

Lyles’ most anticipated showdown in the event is against world 200m bronze medalist Erriyon Knighton.

The event will mark Lyles' first outdoor race following his impressive 60m dash victory at the New Balance Grand Prix.

While they may be rivals on the track, Lyles and Tebogo seem to share a mutual understanding and respect that could shape their encounters against each other on the world stage.

They’re yet to have early-season encounters but will most certainly come face to face at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships.