Botswana's Letsile Tebogo sounds off warning call with win over Noah Lyles in 200m semis; defending champion Andre De Grasse out
Noah Lyles' path to the rare Olympic sprint double at Paris 2024 will not be easy.
Wednesday (7 August) evening, the newly-minted "fastest man in the world" finished runner-up to 2023 world bronze medallist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana in the men's 200m semi-finals, while reigning Olympic champion Andre De Grasse of Canada failed to make it into the final.
Tebogo won the second of three semi-finals with a 19.96, while the American Lyles was second at 20.08. Tebogo was the lone man to break the 20-second mark all evening, his strong start carrying him ahead of Lyles around the bend.
Lyles is attempting to win both the Olympic 100m and 200m for the first time since the legendary Usain Bolt did so three times, in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Lyles' U.S. teammates Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton are safely into the final, as well, clocking a 20.00 and 20.09, respectively, to win semi-finals one and three.
Dominican Republic's Alexander Ogando, Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia and Zimbabwe's Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu round out the final eight.
South African Wayde van Niekerk, the 400m champion at Rio 2016, was not able to advance to the finals, either.
The men's 200m Olympic final is set for Thursday (8 August) at 20:30 local Paris time (CEST, +2 GMT).
Erriyon Knighton: "I am here for gold. Gold, that's it"
Regardless of the semi-final times, slates will be wiped clean for Thursday's final, where a new 200m Olympic champion will be crowned with the elimination of De Grasse.
While Tebogo will carry confidence into the final after the win over Lyles, the American said coming into Paris that the goal was four golds - the 100m, 200m and both relays.
He also said he expects Bednarek to go all out in the 200m after his teammate missed out on the podium in the 100m final on Sunday (4 August) evening.
Knighton, still just 20 years old, told Olympics.com that he has one goal: "I am here for gold. Gold that's it," he said.
"I feel like I did good, came out first and I am on to the next round," he continued.
Knighton made his Olympic debut at age 17 in Tokyo in 2021, where he finished in fourth place.
He didn't appear to be phased by the 80,000 screaming fans inside of Stade de France.
"Not so much different [from Tokyo]. Some folks here... just here the people, the crowds... other than that it just feels the same for me. So I still have to run with the same dudes now to compete for gold."
Andre De Grasse: "I reactivated a lingering issue in my hamstring"
After the semi-finals, De Grasse confirmed that he had been dealing with a hamstring issue since the 100m semis, saying he had reactivated 'a lingering issue in my hamstring'.
He added: "It was going to be tough today. I warmed up, but didn’t really feel it. But I knew I had to go out there and try to do my best and see what I can come up with."
It wasn't enough for the Tokyo 2020 winner, who stunned Lyles (bronze) for the gold three years ago.
"It’s tough," added the 29-year-old. "It’s been a tough 24, 48 hours. I've just got to try to keep the head, try to see how I can support my team in any way with the 4x100m relay."
The men's 4x100m relay first round takes place on Thursday (8 August) at 11:35 local time (CET).
De Grasse anchored Canada to silver in that event three years ago in Tokyo, runners-up to Italy.
Disappointment also rang out for Van Niekerk, who had turned his individual focus to the 200m after also qualifying in his staple event, the 400m.
"I’m not happy with where I’m at the moment," said the South African. "I’m putting in the work every day... [but] it feels impossible right now. But I’m never closing my mind towards the future. I’m a man of faith. I’m always optimistic that better opportunities will come ahead of me. But obviously it takes time.”