Letsile Tebogo Jabs “Arrogant” Noah Lyles After Besting Him For Gold

Letsile Tebogo won his gold medal in the 200-meter men’s final, but he seems to have some unfinished business off the track. During a post-game presser on Thursday (Aug. 8), the Botswana athlete was asked about being the new face of international sprinting. He denied being the perfect fit for the sports ambassador role as he didn’t fit the bill compared to someone like Noah Lyles.

Noah Lyles Wins Bronze Medal In 200M Race Despite Having COVID

“I think, for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah [Lyles],” Tebogo said. “I believe Noah is the face of athletics.”

Noah, who finished in third place in the 200-meter men’s final, has seemingly seen every possible fate on the track on this week. Lyles began the week by snagging gold in a photo finish for the 100-meter final on Sunday (Aug. 4) with a personal best record of 9.784 seconds, thrusting him past his competition.

During a post-game presser, Lyles doubled down on his confidence that he would place first in the rest of his competitions, saying, “[Kenny Bednarek] definitely put up a fast time at [U.S.] trials, and that definitely woke me up. I was very proud of him. He’s definitely not going to take how he did here in the 100 lying down. He’s going to say, ‘I’m going after it in the 200.’ Because he knows he can go after it. But my job is to make sure that… that man ain’t winning. None of them is winning. When I come off the turn they will be depressed.”

Fast forward to Thursday and Lyles snags a bronze medal in the 200m competition, throwing a bit of a wrench to his claim. However, Lyles would fall to the ground after the race concluded, appearing to be struggling to breathe. The Olympian was eventually carted off the track before reports revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19.

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“I’ve run with worse conditions, I felt, and we just took it day by day, trying to hydrate as much,” he said. “I’ve never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and getting a bronze medal—where last Olympic I was very disappointed [with a bronze medal], and this time, I couldn’t be more proud.”

He then took to Instagram later that day to update his fans on his wellbeing. Lyles confirmed that COVID would essentially end his time at the 2024 Paris Olympics but shared a message to his haters and naysayers.

“I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics. It is not the Olympic I dreamed of but it has left me with so much Joy in my heart. I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn’t you? See you next time,” he typed.

Watch the videos above.

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