Gold Medalist Letsile Tebogo Throws Shade At Noah Lyles

Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo threw shade at American Noah Lyles after winning the men's 200-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday (August 9).

Tebogo, 21, who was timed at 19.46, was asked about potentially being the new face of track and field after defeating Lyles, 27, who entered as the favorite in the men's 200-meter dash days after winning gold in the 100-meter final and took bronze with a time of 19.70.

"I think, for me, I can't be the face of athletics because I'm not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah so I believe Noah is the face of athletics," Tebogo told reporters while sitting next to Lyles' American teammate Kenneth Bednarek , who took silver with a time of 19.62.

Tebogo became the second representative of an African country to medal in the 200-meter, joining Frankie Fredericks , who won silver at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta games. Lyles was confirmed to have COVID-19 by American Track & Field officials after taking bronze in the 200-meter final, BBC Sport reported.

The American sprinter nearly fell to the ground and was seen receiving medical attention after the race after wearing a mask prior to the event. Lyles won gold in the men's 100-meter final on Sunday (August 4) in a photo finish, edging Jamaica's Kishane Thompson by a .005 second difference, to become the first American to win gold in the event since Justin Gatlin at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

iHeartMedia is providing 24/7 coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics broadcasting live on NBC Olympics Radio Plus and play-by-play action during live premium events on NBC Olympics Radio .