On Thursday, Letsile Tebogo made history as the first African to secure the men’s Olympic 200 meters title, surging ahead of American runners Kenny Bednarek and a COVID-affected Noah Lyles to earn Botswana’s inaugural Olympic gold medal. Tebogo, who had set a national record of 9.86 seconds in the 100m final, showcased an impressive final 50 meters, finishing in 19.46 seconds and celebrating as he became the fifth-fastest man ever in the 200m.
Bednarek trailed Tebogo closely to claim his second consecutive silver with a time of 19.62 seconds, while Lyles, who sought to become the first American to achieve the sprint double since Carl Lewis 40 years ago, finished in third place with a time of 19.67 seconds, replicating his Tokyo bronze. This was the triple world champion’s first defeat in a 200m final in three years. After the race, he received medical care, and it was later disclosed that he had tested positive for COVID two days after securing the 100 meters gold.
In response to the positive COVID test, the USOPC and USATF quickly implemented all necessary measures to prioritize his health, the team’s safety, and the well-being of other competitors. They emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of Team USA athletes while respecting their right to compete.
After a thorough medical assessment, Lyles chose to participate in the race, and his decision was respected as his condition is closely monitored. Additionally, a yellow card was issued against Lyles in the official results for a misconduct violation related to damaging his lane box before the race started.
A Historic Night for Africa
While much attention was on Lyles, the night truly belonged to Tebogo and Africa. This was a historic moment, as it marked the first time in Olympic history that four Africans competed in a sprint final. Even though three of them finished in the lower positions, Tebogo’s victory, highlighted by setting an African record, was a remarkable achievement.
“I’m now the Olympic champion, which is something I never dreamed of—it’s an incredible feeling,” the 21-year-old said. “I came here giving it my all, and my coach encouraged me by saying, ‘Now it’s your race.’ I was aware of Kenny’s speed and focused on catching him. My top-end speed allowed me to finish strong without tiring. When I saw Kenny dropping back and Noah far behind, it confirmed my win. This victory means a lot to everyone—my country, the continent, and my family.”
Bednarek, positioned in the middle lane once more, executed an impressive bend in lane eight and finished strongly, but wasn’t quite fast enough for the win.
“I don’t think I ran my best race; it was very close at the end,” he said. “This year, I’m finally healthy, and I can build on this. With the world championships coming up next year, I’m aiming to be a strong competitor. I expect to achieve great things over the next four years.”
