There appears to be a brewing tension between two prominent Olympic sprinters.
The track and field events at Paris 2024 commenced on August 1 and will continue until the conclusion of the Games on Sunday (August 11).
These events have arguably become some of the most talked-about sports at the Olympics this year, with several noteworthy incidents occurring.
From French athlete Anthony Ammirati injuring himself on the pole vault bar to a confrontation between two runners during the 5,000m race, it’s clear that the Games have been quite dramatic.
Additionally, it’s not just the 5,000m athletes who are clashing. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo seemed to make a pointed comment about Team USA’s Noah Lyles after the 200m final.
Lyles has been vocal about his goal of winning gold at the Games and has shown a lot of confidence, even painting ‘ICON’ on his fingernails.
Though the 27-year-old secured gold in the 100m final, he did not achieve the top spot in the 200m event on August 8, where Tebogo emerged victorious.
Lyles, who later disclosed that he had been suffering from Covid, finished in third place, while his fellow Team USA runner Kenny Bednarek came in second.
Following the race, the athletes participated in a press conference where Tebogo wasted no time in taking a dig at Lyles.
Tebogo was asked if he aspired to be ‘the face of track and field’ like renowned athletes such as Usain Bolt.
He responded: “I think, for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah [Lyles].”
Tebogo, who is six years younger than Lyles, added: “I believe Noah is the face of athletics.”
People online have since reacted to Tebogo’s remarks, expressing their surprise.
“Lmaoooooooo Tebogo’s response to a question asking if he would like to be the face of athletics is SENDINGGG ME,” one person tweeted.
Another person noted that Lyles’ teammate Bednarek appeared to be hiding a smile following Tebogo’s comment.
However, someone else argued that Tebogo did not mean any disrespect.
“If you’re African. You’d know he’s not trying to be arrogant or attack anyone,” they wrote. “That response would sound different in his own language. He’s trying to say that Noah has the right energy for bringing eyes/sponsorship to athletics… It’s just the way we speak, he wasn’t hating.”