Letsile Tebogo on How His Rivalry with Noah Lyles Evolved: 'Before It Was a Real Thing'

Letsile Tebogo revealed how his rivalry with Noah Lyles has matured, balancing competition on the track with a friendly relationship off it.

Reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo has reflected on how his rivalry with Noah Lyles has developed over time.

The two sprinters compete in both the 100m and 200m, but their head-to-head clashes in the 200m have been the most closely watched.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Letsile Tebogo made history by claiming gold in the 200m, while Noah Lyles settled for bronze.

However, at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, the outcome was reversed, with Noah Lyles taking the 200m gold and Letsile Tebogo finishing in fourth place, illustrating the evolving nature of their competitive dynamic.

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Letsile Tebogo Sheds Light on His Relationship with Noah Lyles

Letsile Tebogo explained that his rivalry with Noah Lyles has matured over time, emphasising that both athletes realised the importance of separating competition from personal relationships.

He said that they had to put aside their egos to focus purely on performing against each other on the track, while maintaining a friendly and relaxed relationship off it.

Letsile Tebogo recounted a recent example in Tokyo, where they attended a proposal party together, describing how Noah Lyles had reserved an entire venue and invited a select group of friends.

He highlighted that events like this allow them to take a break from the pressures of athletics, unwind, and enjoy normal social interactions, reinforcing that their connection extends beyond mere competition.

“Nah, before it was a real thing. Yeah. And then he understood that we still have a long way to go. So, we have to drop both of our egos and then just be rivals on the track, and then outside the track, we are just cool. Yeah. Yeah, we do,” Letsile Tebogo told Life Unscripted with Lezozo.

“In Tokyo, we went to a proposal party; he's getting married. So he booked the whole club out and then sent a few invitations to people. So, we just hung out together, and then it was so much fun.

“And then now we need to unwind and then just leave track and field just for a couple of hours, and just be normal human beings.”

Letsile Tebogo on Rivalry with Kenny Bednarek

Letsile Tebogo also spoke about Kenny Bednarek, noting that he consistently performs at the highest level, frequently reaching finals and securing second place in major championships, including the previous year and in 2024.

He acknowledged that Kenny Bednarek’s presence is sometimes underappreciated despite his consistent excellence.

Letsile Tebogo also reflected on tensions within Kenny Bednarek’s training group, explaining that some athletes are competitive and ambitious, often aiming to outpace him, even if they do not express it directly.

He suggested that such rivalries are natural in elite athletics and cited examples like the Prefontaine Classic to illustrate the intensity and visibility of these competitive dynamics.

“Kenny Bednarek, because he's always there in every final. And then he became position two at last year's championships, and then also in 2024 he became position two. So, he's always there if people don't notice him,” he added.

“There are a few athletes from his training group who are beefing with me, but they're not saying it to my face, and it's always going to be the case that they always want to come first. If you look at the Prefontaine Classic when I crowned myself, when you look into that, you'll see that person.”