American Sprint Legend on Why Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo Will Not Have it Easy in Tokyo

American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has warned Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo against assuming that the 200 meter showdown in Tokyo at the upcoming World Athletics Championships will be easy. 

Lyles and Tebogo took each other on in the Diamond League final in Zurich in the event, with Lyles getting his revenge on the Motswana star for the second time since the Olympic games, when he had to settle for bronze.

They had their first clash of the season at the Monaco Diamond League in July, and Lyles got his revenge clocking a brilliant 19.88s. Then recorded another win over Tebogo at the Diamond League final in Zurich, in an impressive 19.74s to claim his sixth career Diamond Trophy.

However, Gatlin believes the showdown will be far from a two-horse race between the two. While he gave Tebogo his flowers for his tactics to try and win the Zurich showdown, he believes other competitors will be in for it as much as the two.

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“I mean, listen—going back to the other competitors who are sitting in the wings, waiting and watching this race—you saw how Tebogo and Noah ran. They weren’t conservative,” Gatlin said on his Ready Set Go Podcast.

“Tebogo had a strategy: he had to get out fast, create separation. It turned into a dogfight with 50 meters to go. They were both fighting for position, and it came down to almost a photo finish, Doug.

“That tells you they were giving everything to get that win. Nobody was being cautious; everybody was out there chasing victory.”

Gatlin believes the battle for the gold medal in Tokyo will be anything but smooth, considering the run of form the likes of Kenny Bednarek are bringing to Japan based off their performances this year.

“But you also can’t count out the athletes waiting in the wings. You’ve got guys like Brian Lavell, Kenny Bednarek, Zarnell Hughes, Courtney Lindsay—all of them have run really fast times this season. 

“They’re not burnt out. They’re preparing for the World Championships just like these two.

“So when we look at that “main character energy” on display in the Diamond League finals, we can’t overlook the others who have pushed the envelope this season. 

“They’re going to step up. They each have their own narratives, their own reasons to win. And I think a lot of them have matured this year compared to past seasons—not just aiming for the podium, but aiming for the very top.

"Ain’t nobody out there running away from the field. This 200m final at the World Championships is going to be a real fight."

With Lyles also doubling as the reigning world champion in the 100m and 200m, the men's sprint division in Tokyo looks promising to produce the fireworks and perhaps one for the ages.