The first final on the track on Wednesday saw an unprecedented feat. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won the gold medal in Paris in the 200 meters, the first time an athlete from Africa has been atop the podium for the event in Olympic history. It is also Botswana’s first ever Olympic gold medal.
Ahead of the race, Noah Lyles came out of the tunnel with his typical flair. The American record holder and reigning World Champion in the event was coming in as the favorite, already with gold in the 100m in hand, and the 200m being the better event for him. Lyles has been consistent in his approach to these Games: to win four gold medals across the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m.
As the starter’s gun went off, the race started out clean, and as they came through the turn, Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek were leading the field with Lyles in third. As the trio pushed to the finish line, Lyles’s trademark top-end speed was expected to kick in, but the press from the two in front was too much to overcome. Tebogo ran 19.46 seconds to earn the gold in a Botswana national record, with Bednarek earning silver at 19.62 seconds. Lyles came away from the 200m with bronze in 19.70 seconds.
Immediately following the race, Lyles was tended to on the track by medical personnel. It is reported that he tested positive for COVID two days before the 200m final.
This is Tebogo’s first Olympic medal and his first gold in major global competition. He earned both a silver and bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in the 100m and 200m, respectively. This was his second contest of these Games, having finished 6th in the 100 meter final in a national record of 9.86 seconds.
Kenny Bednarek’s performance in Paris earned him his second 200m Olympic silver medal, having finished in the same position in Tokyo. He also has a silver medal in the event from the 2022 World Championships.
