By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@WorldAthletics.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has won gold in the men’s 200m, with American Kenneth Bednarek taking silver ahead and his compatriot and 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles taking bronze.
Tebogo, who won bronze at the worlds last year and set a national record of 9.86 when finishing sixth in the Paris 100m final, produced a dominant run to become the fifth-fastest man in history over 200m.
Bednarek chased him all the way to take a second successive silver in 19.62 seconds, with Lyles, hoping to become the first American to complete the sprint double since Carl Lewis 40 years ago, third in 19.67.
Lyles received medical treatment after crossing the line and after the race, U.S. officials said he had COVID, putting his participation in Friday’s sprint relay final in serious doubt.
The newly crowned 100m champion was drawn in lane five, outside Alexander Ogando and inside American teammate Erriyon Knighton, while Tebogo was in seven.
Tebogo looked in total control, even relaxing as he went through the finish line, making a brushing-off gesture with his hand on his sky blue vest.
“I’m the Olympic champion, it’s something I have never seen in my life or dreamt of – it is an amazing moment,” the 21-year-old told reporters.
“I just came here with the little that I had in me to push through because yesterday we made it to the final, my coach told me ‘now it’s your race’.
“I knew when the gun went Kenny was going to run away so make sure just to close him down, I have that top end speed that will allow me to finish the race without getting tired, so that’s what I did, and when I saw Kenny fade I knew Noah was far, far away behind us so that means I’m the Olympic champion.