The American was unstoppable as Noah Lyles beat Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in the Diamond League Final in Zurich on Thursday.
Noah Lyles beat Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in the men's 200m at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, powering through the final metres to claim yet another prestigious title.
The American, who has consistently been one of the sport’s biggest names over the last five years, edged Tebogo in a dramatic finish that had the stadium on its feet.
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The Botswana star, who had beaten Lyles to Olympic 200m gold last year in Paris, looked poised to repeat the feat, only to be piped on the line by his American rival.
“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, acknowledging the very strength that ultimately made the difference in Zurich.
This latest chapter continues a compelling rivalry that has defined men’s sprinting since 2023.
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At the World Championships that year, Lyles captured both the 100m and 200m crowns, with Tebogo chasing home for silver and bronze.
The duel extended to the Paris Olympics in 2024, where Lyles again reigned supreme in the 100m, but Tebogo gained sweet revenge in the 200m final, storming to victory as Lyles could only manage third.
Zurich Brings Another Twist
In Zurich, however, Lyles once again had the edge. His trademark acceleration in the final 50 metres, the same quality Tebogo had singled out as “unmatched,” proved decisive.
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Tebogo, who had led off the bend, could not hold off the surge as Lyles powered past to snatch the win in 19.74 seconds, just ahead of Tebogo’s season-best 19.76.
Behind them, Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando took third in 20.14, with Robert Gregory of the USA clocking 20.20 for fourth.
Reynier Mena of Cuba followed in fifth, while Kyree King, Joseph Fahnbulleh, and Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike rounded out the field.
Zurich once again underlined why the Lyles–Tebogo rivalry has become one of athletics’ most captivating storylines: two men trading blows, each capable of defeating the other, and neither willing to concede supremacy.