Letsile Tebogo of Botswana crushed American Noah Lyles’s hopes of winning the sprint double by setting the best time in the men’s 200-meter Olympic semi-finals.
Tebogo, the bronze medallist from last year’s global championship, passed the American 100-meter champion at the turn and easily won the remaining distance, finishing in 19.96 seconds. Lyles, 27, had to put in a lot of effort to place second in 20.08.
Americans Erriyon Knighton, 20, and Kenny Bednarek, 20, who both won their semi-finals—Knighton crossing in 20.09 and Bednarek clocking in at 20.00—both earned silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic, Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia, and Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba of Zimbabwe complete the field for Thursday’s championship match.
Since having to settle for bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Lyles, the three-time defending world champion in his own sport, has not lost.
But his slow run on Thursday reminded him of his slow 100-meter semifinal, when he contacted his therapist for advice. After two hours, he emerged and thrilled the audience by taking first place in the most contested men’s 100-meter event in Olympic history.
According to a USA Track and Field representative, Lyles didn’t pause to talk to reporters; instead, he went straight to meet medical professionals.
He is looking to become the first American in four decades to win the Olympic sprint double and is aiming for potentially four golds in Paris, in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and — if he is selected in the squad — the 4x400m relay.
Canada’s defending champion Andre de Grasse, the last man to beat Lyles in a competitive race over the distance, did not advance to the final.
“I reactivated a lingering issue in my hamstring,” De Grasse said. “It was going to be tough today. I knew I had to go out there and try to do my best and see what I can come up with.
“It’s tough. It’s been a tough 24, 48 hours. I’ve just got to try to keep the head, try to see how I can support my team in any way with the 4x100m relay.”
