Monaco – The highly anticipated return of Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles to the 200m will electrify the Wanda Diamond League meet in Monaco this Friday. The 27-year-old American sprinter is set to make his season debut in his signature event, promising a thrilling clash against Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo.
A Long-Awaited Rematch
This race marks the first time Lyles and Tebogo will face each other since the dramatic 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In that memorable race, a Covid-struck Lyles managed to secure a bronze medal, while Tebogo stormed to Olympic gold, solidifying his status as a formidable force in the half-lap sprint.
Lyles has been relatively quiet on the track this season, with his only competition being a 400m race in Atlanta back in April. He had to withdraw from the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May due to a “tight ankle” injury, making his return at the prestigious Monaco Diamond League even more significant. This will be his first 200m outing of the 2025 campaign, and he’ll be looking to make a strong statement.
Tebogo: The Man to Beat
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo arrives in Monaco as the undeniable favorite. He recently showcased his explosive form at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last Saturday, where he blazed to a world-leading time of 19.76 seconds in the 200m. This impressive performance, following a period of managing a “recurring knee injury” that had caused him to withdraw from the Rabat Diamond League in May, confirms his readiness to dominate. Tebogo has also had a strong start to his 2025 Diamond League season, winning the 200m in Doha in May.
Tebogo’s consistent brilliance and his status as the reigning Olympic 200m champion firmly establish him as the man to beat in this highly anticipated showdown. He has been unbeaten in his three 200m races this season.
The Stakes and Expectations
For Lyles, who famously declared his ambition to win three gold medals at the Paris Olympics (100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay) before the COVID-19 diagnosis impacted his 200m performance, this race is crucial. It offers him an immediate opportunity to test his form and fitness against the very best in the world. He has not lost a 200m race in Diamond League competition in over five years, a streak he will be keen to maintain.
The Monaco Diamond League meeting, also known as Herculis EBS, is renowned for its fast track and competitive fields. With both Lyles and Tebogo on the starting line, the men’s 200m is poised to be one of the highlights of the evening, providing an early indication of who might set the pace for the remainder of the 2025 athletics season.
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