Noah Lyles is afraid of me - Letsile Tebogo downplays consecutive losses, looks ahead to World Championships in Tokyo

Funmilayo Fameso 22:47 - 30 August 2025

Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo

Despite consecutive Diamond League losses to Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo remains confident in his abilities and downplays any possibilities of his top rival having an edge ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.

Following another Diamond League loss to Noah Lyles in Zurich, Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo believes the American champion is still afraid of him since losing the final in Paris.

The two speedsters became fierce rivals since the Paris final, where Tebogo set a historic African record of 19.45 seconds to win the gold medal, while Lyles finished in third place. It was later revealed that the six-time world champion tested positive for COVID-19 two days before the race, which impacted his performance.

Letsile Tebogo defeated Noah Lyles in the Olympic 200m final in Paris. (Credit: Imago).

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.

Noah Lyles (R) edged Letsile Tebogo (L) to win the Diamond League final in Zurich on Aug. 28

Despite his consecutive losses to Lyles, Tebogo remains confident in his abilities and downplays any possibilities of his top rival having an edge ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.

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"This is not my true potential now. I feel there's still a lot more in the tank that people need to see. I take this as a big motivation for my training, and from tomorrow until the last day of the 200m final, I have to give it all my best," he said in a post-race interview after the Zurich Diamond League final.

He added, talking about Lyles: "I think for now, he is more humble. He knows what can happen in the sport. He wins today, tomorrow he can lose it. I believe since Paris, he has been humble; he has not been talking so much. But I believe the more he is afraid of the other athlete. Now he is just more calm, we are really balanced at the moment."

Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo after the 200m final at the Paris Olympic Games

Tebogo also confirmed he'll be doubling in Tokyo. "For sure, I'm going to double in Tokyo, I just want to let it all out," he said.

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.