Tebogo says he and Lyles are friendly rivals after arrogant remark in Paris

MANCHESTER, England - Botswanas Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo said he and Noah Lyles have a friendly relationship, clarifying remarks he made about his American rival being arrogant after beating him for gold in the 200 metres at last years Paris Games.

Tebogo, who captured Botswanas first Olympic title, raised eyebrows in his post-race press conference when he said he could not be the face of athletics because he was not an arrogant or loud person like Noah who embraces being a showman.

When you get onto the track, its all about business, Tebogo said in a video call on Wednesday. (But) when we finish, you can be friends, life goes on.

But the arrogance ... hes good to sell our sport. But with me, Ill always shy away from doing that because thats me.

Tebogo blazed to a time of 19.46 seconds in the Paris 200m final, making him the fifth fastest man in history.

Three-times world 200m champion Lyles had been the favourite, but moments after he crossed the finish line third, the American revealed he had COVID-19.

With Lyles aiming to reassert his dominance over the distance, Tebogo was asked about running with a target on his back this season.

Everybody whos there on the lineup, its a rival. You cannot eliminate somebody because he didnt perform well at the 2024 Olympics or 2023 World Championships, Tebogo said. Its a new year, new beginnings, new goals.

Its a rivalry on the track, and then off the track, we are human beings at the end of the day.

GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

Tebogo is encouraging kids to participate in sport and on Wednesday the 21-year-old was named World Athletics global ambassador for the federations Kids Athletics program.

Growing up in a rough neighbourhood in Botswana, Tebogo said that had it not