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American sprint icon Justin Gatlin believes African sprinters led by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo have what it takes to challenge long-standing American-Jamaican rivalry spearheaded by Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has predicted that African sprinters, led by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, could soon challenge the longstanding Jamaican-American rivalry in men’s sprinting, particularly the 100m.
The rivalry, epitomized by Olympic champion Noah Lyles and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, was highlighted at the recent Olympics, where both sprinters clocked 9.79 seconds in the 100m final.
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05:39 - 21.11.2024
'Africa could be one of the deadliest'- Letsile Tebogo on what Africa must do to produce world-class sprinters
The reigning Olympic champion has detailed what Africa needs to do to get to the level of the US when it comes to sprinting.
Lyles narrowly edged Thompson in a dramatic photo finish, solidifying his dominance. However, Gatlin believes African athletes are poised to shake up the status quo.
“The way Africa is rising in sprinting and track and field as a whole is remarkable. They’re finding their foothold, especially in the sprinting realm,” said Gatlin in a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast.
He pointed to Tebogo as a leading figure in this surge, stating, “Tebogo isn’t just representing himself or Botswana, he’s championing an entire continent. This unity within African sprinters is creating an environment where ‘iron sharpens iron.’ That internal competition is sharpening their skills and pushing them closer to the global elite."
Tebogo, who finished sixth in the 100m final with a time of 9.86 seconds, demonstrated his prowess by clinching gold in the 200m.
In that race, he outpaced notable names like American Olympian Kenny Bednarek who claimed silver Lyles who settled for bronze in third, showcasing his potential to dominate the sprinting scene in the upcoming seasons.
Looking ahead, Tebogo and other top African sprinters like Akani Simbine who clocked 9.82 seconds in fourth place in the 100m final in Paris aim to build on this success, particularly as they prepare for the 2025 World Champion67ships and the 2028 Olympics.
Gatlin emphasized the importance of refining their craft, adding, “It’s all about improving by just 10%. That slight edge could be the difference between winning and losing. The margins are that small at this level.”
The showdown between Lyles and Thompson at the Olympics marked one of the closest finishes in recent sprint history.
Gatlin believes that such fierce competition motivates athletes worldwide to raise their game.
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09:00 - 31.10.2024
'Watch out for Africa'- Letsile Tebogo fires warning shots after bagging top ANOC award
Letsile Tebogo was named Best Male Athlete of the Paris 2024 Olympics by ANOC for his gold in the 200m and silver in the 4x400m relay, highlighting Africa’s rising athletic prowess.
“The world is sharpening its knives, preparing for that fight. Last year, it was a blanket finish, and now everyone knows they need to improve their start, acceleration, and top speed to compete at that level,” he explained.
As the sprinting world gears up for the next major championships, eyes will be on Tebogo and his African counterparts to see if they can upset the established order and usher in a new era of global sprinting rivalry.
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