Letsile Tebogo Mentions Key Area Where Noah Lyles is Unmatched Ahead of Titanic Battle in Zurich

Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo has showered Noah Lyles with praise while singling out the American’s main strength that his rivals struggle with.

Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and his 100m counterpart Noah Lyles have had key battles on the track in the last two years and seem to have learned each other’s strengths.

Lyles beat Tebogo in both 100m and 200m at the 2023 world Championships, where he won gold in both, as the Botswana sprinter claimed silver and bronze respectively.

The American did the same in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics but Tebogo got his revenge in 200m, which he won as Lyles finished third.

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Both sprinters have raced each other in the Diamond League again this season with Lyles getting the better of Tebogo twice and they will be contesting the final in Zurich on Thursday where a trophy and $30,000 is on the line.

What is Noah Lyles’ Main Strength?

Ahead of their duel in Zurich, the two have been discussing what sets them apart and Tebogo admits Lyles has one major strength that all the other sprinters do not possess.

“I have seen him in London. His top-end [speed] is something that is crazy. That is unmatched and I haven’t seen anybody get to that level. For you to catch him and pass, it takes a lot from somebody so that is where he is,” Tebogo said on Wednesday.

Lyles has been hard to beat in 100m at the last two major championships but faces stiff competition from the likes of Tebogo, Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville this year.

The American has also lauded Tebogo for his versatility, terming him a rare breed that looks to be dying in track and field.

Lyles Praises Tebogo’s Versatility

“Letsile has strong versatility in all his events. It is very strong and all needed. When I was coming up, I was like there are not a lot of doublers here, not a lot of people who could go from 100m to 400m or 100m to 300m,” said Lyles.

“It was kind of weird, watching from 2007 to around 2015, there were a lot more doublers and they kind of drifted off and now, you can see a resurgence with Letsile being one of those people,” he added.

The two will clash in the 200m in Zurich, which will be the final event, of the highly awaited Diamond League season-finale.