Letsile Tebogo has firmly declined the role of becoming the face of athletics following his success at the Paris Olympics. When asked why, he pointed to Noah Lyles as the natural choice due to certain qualities that Lyles possesses. Tebogo does not see himself as a crowd-puller and instead aims to cement his place in the track and field record books in the coming years. Despite being his rival, Lyles recognizes several aspects in Tebogo that make him stand out.
In an interview with Michael Eaves on SportsCenter, the 27-year-old Lyles endorsed Tebogo as a strong candidate for Season 2 of the “Sprint” docu-series. The reigning world champion believes Tebogo’s story would resonate with audiences because it embodies grit and endurance. Lyles specifically highlighted Tebogo’s victory at the Paris Olympics and his ability to overcome personal grief, saying it deserves applause from the public.
Despite losing to Tebogo in the men’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics, Lyles has nothing but praise for him. “He [Tebogo] has an amazing story. I mean, with the passing of his mom this year and still being able to come out and, you know, find the courage and the energy,” Lyles stated. Tebogo’s mother had been a familiar presence at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest the previous year.
Facing a series of defeats at the hands of Lyles, Tebogo managed to win two medals in both the 100m and 200m events, though the gold medal eluded him. Nevertheless, his mother, Seratiwa, found a sense of victory in these near-misses because her son had successfully put their homeland on the global athletics map. Since then, Tebogo set his sights on an Olympic triumph.
On August 8, Tebogo achieved his goal by defeating Lyles and Kenny Bednarek in the men’s 200m event at the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, his mother was not there to witness his triumph, as she had passed away in May due to a brief illness. Tebogo was unable to be by her side in her final moments as he was preparing for the Los Angeles Grand Prix. In Paris, however, he carried her memory with him. After winning the highly anticipated 200m final, he showcased his spikes to the crowd at Stade de France, which had his mother’s birthday imprinted on them. Lyles praised this raw display of determination, putting rivalry aside. For Lyles, Tebogo’s story exemplifies the kind of narratives that Season 2 of “Sprint” should celebrate, regardless of who comes out as the winner. Tebogo has already achieved significant milestones beyond his Olympic gold.
Noah Lyles’s “hero,” as he calls Tebogo, embodies resilience and the determination to fight back. Last year, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe commented on Netflix, “It takes a special talent, both physically and mentally, to succeed in a world where your fate is decided in just 10 seconds.” Lyles has consistently demonstrated this talent, recently winning a close race against Kishane Thompson in Paris by a mere five-thousandths of a second. But Tebogo has also shown his strength, not just on the track but in his battle with personal challenges.
After the Paris Olympics, Tebogo dominated the 200m events until his winning streak was broken by Kenny Bednarek at the Diamond League final in Brussels. Throughout this period, Tebogo was engaged in a mental struggle. He recalled one instance after the Rome Diamond League final when he had to summon the mental strength to prepare for the race. Tebogo faced “mental breakdowns,” but he managed to cope by maintaining a positive attitude. This mindset helped him overcome obstacles. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Sport and my mother’s infinite love allowed me to realize everything in life, even up to Olympic gold.” Lyles likely referred to this story while advocating for Tebogo’s inclusion in Netflix’s “Sprint” series,Season 2.
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