The 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin has offered his expert insight on the growing rivalry between American sprint sensation Noah Lyles and Botswana’s rising star Letsile Tebogo.

Both athletes have enjoyed tremendous success in 2024 and Gatlin believes that their head-to-head battles could define the next era of sprinting.

In a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin expressed his admiration for both athletes but singled out Lyles for his extraordinary potential and star power.

"Sky's the limit for Noah.He still has that ‘it’ factor, and he brings it to the table every time. He's athletically inclined to walk it and talk it, and that’s what makes him stand out," Gatlin said.

Lyles, a six-time world champion, cemented his legacy further with a stunning performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He captured the gold medal in the 100m final, clocking a personal best of 9.79 seconds (9.784), just edging out Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, who finished with a near-identical time of 9.79 seconds (9.789).

Meanwhile, Letsile Tebogo has been nothing short of phenomenal in his own right.

The Botswana sprinter took the athletics world by storm in 2024, winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with a record-breaking 19.46 seconds in the 200m, setting a new African record.

Tebogo then delivered a jaw-dropping 43.03 seconds split in the 4x400m relay, the second-fastest split in history, helping Botswana earn a silver medal with an African record time of 2:54.53.

Gatlin, himself a former world champion and a gold medalist in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, praised Tebogo’s versatility and immense talent.

“He [Tebogo] has a reservoir of talent, and the fact is, his issue is going to be which one he’s going to pick, which one he’s going to focus on,” Gatlin said.

“He’s that true hybrid athlete that can do a little bit of everything and do it very well.”

The veteran sprinter went on to say that he believes the rivalry between Lyles and Tebogo could develop into one of the greatest showdowns in sprinting history.

“These two, I don’t know, for some reason, I just see a really epic battle for the ages,” Gatlin stated.

“It depends on what they’re going to line up in and when they’ll line up, but we’re in for something special.”

Lyles, who capped off his season with a gold medal in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m in Paris, recently confirmed that he has decided to end his 2024 campaign early.

In an interview during the 2024 US Open, Lyles revealed that the lingering effects of COVID-19 led to the decision.

“We decided that after the COVID situation, we are just going to call it there and I didn't want to keep pushing,” he said.

On the other hand, Tebogo is set to compete in the 200m final at the Brussels Diamond League on September 14, as he seeks to add a Diamond League title to his stellar season.

With both sprinters riding high on the global stage, the future of men’s sprinting looks brighter than ever.

Gatlin’s remarks underline the significance of this budding rivalry with fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the clash between Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo.

Letsile Tebogo reveals how a quote from Eliud Kipchoge has shaped his 2024 season

Letsile Tebogo has disclosed a quote from Eliud Kipchoge that has enabled him to keep going throughout the season despite facing massive setbacks.

Reigning Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo has opened up about how living by Eliud Kipchoge’s mantra of ‘No Human is Limited’ has enabled him to keep going this season.

The Motswana sprinter has been impressive this season since winning the Olympic title at the Paris Olympic Games and when asked whether he is exhausted, Tebogo noted that he still has more to give at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.

He explained that after looking into the quote by Kipchoge, he began realising that there’s more he could do rather than just end the season after the Olympics. Tebogo explained that he has been in the form of his life with no injury, something that has worked in his favour.

“There is a saying that says ‘No Human is Limited’, so, I took that and looked through into it and I’ve seen the other end that I’m not limited to anything and I could just go on as long as I’m not injured, it means that the body could still go on for months if that’s the case, so, no human is limited and that’s why I keep on going each and every time I’m on a meet. This is going to be my last and I’m going to rest,” Tebogo said.

After the Paris Olympic Games where he claimed a silver with the men’s 4x400m relay team and gold in the 200m, the world 100m silver medallist proceeded to claim top honours at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne.

The 21-year-old proceeded to claim top honours at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia before winning the 100m in Rome. Tebogo did not stop at that as he went on to win the 200m at the meeting in Zurich before winning the Grand Prix in Lombardia.

Major boost for Michael Johnson’s highest paying track event as two top US sprinters sign up

The two US sprinters will add spice to Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track which is set to be the highest paying track meet in the world.

US sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley have signed up for Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track, setting up epic battles next year.

The new league, fronted by legendary sprinter Michael Johnson, will host four annual Slams in major cities around the world.

Athletes, known as ‘Racers,’ will be assigned to compete in two events during each Slam, with Bednarek and Kerley celebrated sprinters set to compete across the 100m and 200m.

“This is a great day for Grand Slam Track,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “We’ve been saying GST is for “only the fastest,” and bringing Fred and Kenny into the fold is exemplary of that fact.

“These two electrify every time they step onto the track, and I can’t wait to see them entertain thousands of fans at each of our Slams, and millions more watching around the world. I’m delighted to add two more excellent sprinters to our roster of Racers, and am already anticipating their first appearances in Grand Slam Track next year.”

Bednarek is the Olympics sliver medalist over 200m while Kerley won bronze in 100m at the Paris Games.

The two are among the world’s top sprinters and will electrify the event which has a $100,000 cash reward for each of its winners, the most lucrative track event in the world.

“I love competing and think the fans will really enjoy this new track format. The fans will get to see the best of the best race against each other regularly and we have a platform to showcase our talents and continue building our fanbase all around the world. I’m excited to be part of Grand Slam Track,” said Kerley.

Bednarek said: “I’m looking forward to testing my limits, improving my performance, and putting on a show for the fans. It’s going to be exciting for all those watching and participating.”

Bednarek and Kerley join fellow Americans Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, and Great Britain’s Josh Kerr as the first six of 48 Racers to be announced.

Kipyegon and Wanyonyi face Olympic rematches on second day of Diamond League Final in Brussels

Olympic middle-distance champions Faith Kipyegon and Emmanuel Wanyonyi will be up against the athletes who joined them on the Paris podium when they line up for the second day of the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels on Saturday (14).

The first 16 of the 32 Diamond disciplines will be contested on Friday at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, while the rest will take place on Saturday in the Belgian capital. Kenyan duo Kipyegon and Wanyonyi are among the 25 Olympic gold medallists who’ll be in action in Brussels throughout the two days of action.

Multiple world and Olympic champion Kipyegon has been unbeaten in 1500m finals since June 2021, but many competitors in the discipline – such as Olympic silver and bronze medallist Jessica Hull and Georgia Bell, both of whom will be in Brussels – have started to adopt the same fearless approach to racing that the world record-holder possesses.

Along with the three Olympic medallists, Saturday’s race also features world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu, world road mile champion Diribe Welteji and their fellow Ethiopian Birke Haylom.

Four of the men who this season have come within one second of the world 800m record will toe the line once more in Brussels in what could be the final opportunity to record a super quick time this year.

Olympic champion Wanyonyi will be joined by world champion and Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop, Olympic bronze medallist Djamel Sedjati and European champion Gabriel Tual, all of whom have bettered 1:42 in recent months, some of them more than once. Two-time Commonwealth champion Wycliffe Kinyamal and world bronze medallist Ben Pattison add further depth to the field.

Like the women’s 1500m and men’s 800m, the women’s 3000m steeplechase will also have the full set of Olympic medallists in action. World and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi will take on 2021 Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai and Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich.

The last clash between the trio resulted in Yavi clocking a world-leading 8:44.39, just 0.07 shy of the world record, with Chemutai moving to third on the world all-time list with 8:48.03. With the world record now within touching distance, there’s a chance they could attack it again in Brussels.

Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet also recently came close to a world record. The Kenyan ran 14:09.52 over 5000m in Zurich, the seventh fastest performance in history, and she’ll be all too aware that the current world record was set in last year’s Diamond League Final.

In Brussels she’ll face Ethiopian trio Tsigie Gebreselama, Ejegayehu Taye and Medina Eisa.

World and Olympic champions Crouser and Kitaguchi highlight throws

There may only be six competitors in each field event in a Diamond League Final, but what they lack in quantity they certainly make up for in quality.

The six men in the shot put are the same athletes who filled the top six places in the Olympic final. World and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser is yet to surpass the 23-metre line this year, but he came close in Zagreb last week (22.93m). With the likes of Olympic silver and bronze medallists Joe Kovacs and Rajindra Campbell in the field, as well as European champion Leonardo Fabbri, the meeting record of 22.61m looks to be on borrowed time.

The women’s javelin features the top four athletes from the world rankings, led by world and Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi. She’ll face Australia’s Mackenzie Little, world leader Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos and European champion Victoria Hudson.

In the men’s javelin, meanwhile, world champion Neeraj Chopra takes on two-time world champion Anderson Peters as well as Germany’s Julian Weber.

Tebogo and Richardson ready to light up the track

Since winning the Olympic 200m title in Paris, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo hasn’t lost an individual race. He notched up victories in Lausanne (19.64), Silesia (19.83), Zurich (19.55) and Brescia (20.66), as well as winning over 100m in Rome (9.87).

The 21-year-old will target one more triumph on the track in Brussels in a field brimming with leading US sprinters, including Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek, world silver medallist Erriyon Knighton and 2022 world 100m champion Fred Kerley.

Like the women’s 1500m and men’s 800m, the women’s 3000m steeplechase will also have the full set of Olympic medallists in action. World and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi will take on 2021 Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai and Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich.

The last clash between the trio resulted in Yavi clocking a world-leading 8:44.39, just 0.07 shy of the world record, with Chemutai moving to third on the world all-time list with 8:48.03. With the world record now within touching distance, there’s a chance they could attack it again in Brussels.

Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet also recently came close to a world record. The Kenyan ran 14:09.52 over 5000m in Zurich, the seventh fastest performance in history, and she’ll be all too aware that the current world record was set in last year’s Diamond League Final.

In Brussels she’ll face Ethiopian trio Tsigie Gebreselama, Ejegayehu Taye and Medina Eisa.

World and Olympic champions Crouser and Kitaguchi highlight throws

There may only be six competitors in each field event in a Diamond League Final, but what they lack in quantity they certainly make up for in quality.

The six men in the shot put are the same athletes who filled the top six places in the Olympic final. World and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser is yet to surpass the 23-metre line this year, but he came close in Zagreb last week (22.93m). With the likes of Olympic silver and bronze medallists Joe Kovacs and Rajindra Campbell in the field, as well as European champion Leonardo Fabbri, the meeting record of 22.61m looks to be on borrowed time.

The women’s javelin features the top four athletes from the world rankings, led by world and Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi. She’ll face Australia’s Mackenzie Little, world leader Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos and European champion Victoria Hudson.

In the men’s javelin, meanwhile, world champion Neeraj Chopra takes on two-time world champion Anderson Peters as well as Germany’s Julian Weber.

Tebogo and Richardson ready to light up the track

Since winning the Olympic 200m title in Paris, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo hasn’t lost an individual race. He notched up victories in Lausanne (19.64), Silesia (19.83), Zurich (19.55) and Brescia (20.66), as well as winning over 100m in Rome (9.87).

The 21-year-old will target one more triumph on the track in Brussels in a field brimming with leading US sprinters, including Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek, world silver medallist Erriyon Knighton and 2022 world 100m champion Fred Kerley.

To put into context how loaded the women’s 100m hurdles field is, two-time world champion Danielle Williams enters the race with a season’s best of 12.37, which would be good enough for 23rd place on the world all-time list. But in this race it also happens to be the slowest season’s best of the entire field.

Olympic silver and bronze medallists Cyrena Samba-Mayela and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn will clash once more, along with Jamaica’s world leader Ackera Nugent, a 12.24 performer at her best.

In the women’s 200m, Olympic bronze medallist Britanny Brown takes on world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson, Britain’s Daryll Neita and Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith.

Earlier in the evening, Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will contest the same distance in a pre-programme invitational race where she’ll come up against African champion Gina Bass Bittaye.

The two women who followed McLaughlin-Levrone across the line in Paris – Anna Cockrell and Femke Bol – will contest their specialist discipline, the 400m hurdles, in what will be the final race of the weekend. USA’s Shamier Little and Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon, both of whom have broken 53 seconds this year, should also feature.

In the men’s event, 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos takes on Jamaican duo Malik James-King and Roshawn Clarke, as well as Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba.

Kennedy aims to cap standout season

World and Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy will head to Brussels in the hope of wrapping up a stellar 2024 campaign with one more big victory.

But the likes of Olympic bronze medallist Alysha Newman, European champion Angelica Moser and world leader Molly Caudery will also want to go out on a high – quite literally.

Elsewhere in the jumps, world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango takes on 2021 Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo and 2022 world indoor champion Lazaro Martinez in the men’s triple jump. European champion Gianmarco Tamberi faces Olympic silver medallist Shelby McEwen and 2022 world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok in the men’s high jump, while Olympic bronze medallist Jasmine Moore lines up against Italy’s Larissa Iapichino in the women’s long jump.

For Mila Pulse Sport

~ DAN ~