American sprint great explains what can push Letsile Tebogo to Olympics gold over Noah Lyles and Co

Letsile Tebogo

American sprint great explains what can push Letsile Tebogo to Olympics gold over Noah Lyles and Co

Joel Omotto 10:00 - 20.07.2024

The former world and Olympics champion feels the Botswana sprint sensation has got it in him to win gold in Paris only if he does one thing.

Former world and Olympics champion Justin Gatlin feels Letsile Tebogo has what it takes to win gold at the Paris Olympics if he elevates his level of performance.

Gatlin is one of Tebogo’s fans as likes how the 21-year-old goes about his business and made reference to Tebogo’s last race, the Monaco Diamond League, when he confidently strolled to victory.

In the race, Tebogo started quickly but slowed it down after giving his rivals a glance and noticing they were far off, and while he is happy with his tactics, Gatlin wants to see more from him at the Olympics.

“He looked really relaxed, he looked confident [in Monaco] I want to see him turn it up just a little more. I know he’s got it, he showed us four, five months ago what he’s got,” Gatlin said on his Ready Set Go Podcast alongside former Bahamas sprinter Rodney Green.

“He’s young and mysterious, you don’t know too much about him,” added the 2004 Athens Olympics 100m champion.

Green then went on about what could motivate Tebogo even more. The 21-year-old said after the race that everything he is doing now is for his mother, who passed away in May, and Green thinks that kind of motivation could be crucial for the Botswana sensation.

“Go dominate the race but don’t show your whole hand. He looks like he ran 150m then body check and posed to lead the race,” said Rodney Green.

“I’m not giving up on medals, I know when dudes [have] got their momma on the line, that is a different kind of move.”

Tebogo will represent Botswana in the 100m and 200m and after winning silver and bronze respectively in the two races at the 2023 World Championships, there is hope for medals at the Olympics.