Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo wins historic men’s 200m final at 2024 Paris Olympics

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo made history on Thursday in the men’s 200 metres final at the 2024 Summer Olympics by becoming the first African to win Olympic gold in this event. Tebogo, 21, clocked a record-setting time of 19.46 seconds, fastest among all african participants ever, outpacing his competitors and securing a historic victory for Botswana.

Noah Lyles falls short in 200m final

American sprinter Noah Lyles, who had hoped for a sprint double in Paris, finished third in the men’s 200m final. Lyles, the reigning 100m champion, was unable to replicate his earlier success and crossed the finish line with a time of 19.70 seconds. Kenny Bednarek of the United States took the silver medal with a time of 19.62 seconds.

Race dynamics and Tebogo’s dominance

The men’s 200m final at the Stade de France lacked the pre-race excitement seen in the 100m final. Lyles, introduced with a large screen display, received a warm reception but finished behind Tebogo, who demonstrated remarkable control throughout the race. Tebogo, running in lane seven, eased up before crossing the finish line, showcasing his dominance in the Olympic 200m final.

Significance of Tebogo’s victory

This victory is significant for African athletics, as the only previous African to win a short sprint Olympic title was South African Reggie Walker, who claimed gold in the 100m at the 1908 London Games. Tebogo’s achievement marks a milestone in the history of track and field, especially in the men’s 200m category.

The 2024 Olympic 200m finals were a notable moment for track and field, with Tebogo’s win altering the anticipated outcome of Lyles’ double sprint attempt.