Tebogo soars in the 200m dash and spoils Lyles’ attempt at a golden triple (+Photos)

Tebogo crossed the finish line first, giving Botswana an unprecedented gold medal / Photos: World Athletics

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo was crowned Olympic champion in the 200 metres (m) flat at the Stade de France in Paris, winning the final in 19.46, 16 hundredths of a second faster than the American Noah Lyles, who finished third and will not be able to emulate Jamaican Usain Bolt’s triple gold medal.

Four days after his narrow victory in the 100m, American Noah Lyles faced a new final with the aim of adding his second gold and, with the 4x100m relay on the horizon, trying to emulate Usain Bolt’s triple in London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016.

The Botswana (center) won the 200m with a time of 19.46

The Botswanan, who maintained a constant pace throughout the race without faltering, despite having Lyles on his right, stalking him, took victory with a time of 19.46, an African record, although fifteen hundredths of a second off his personal best (19.31).

A milestone

Tebogo also made history by becoming the first athlete from Botswana to win an Olympic gold medal.

Lyles, who was aiming for a podium finish and came out on the track in a high gear, jumping up and down when his name was announced over the loudspeakers, was also not second. He had to settle for third place (19.70) because his compatriot Kenneth Bednarek beat him by just two hundredths of a second (19.72).

The gold medal winner covered himself with his country’s flag to celebrate at the Stade de France

Dominican Alexander Ogando finished fifth with a time of 20.02 and took home an Olympic diploma.

Paris / EFE