Justin Gatlin is struggling to choose between Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles for the title of Male Athlete of the Year for 2024 after both had outstanding seasons.
Lyles achieved a personal best of 9.81 seconds in the 100m at the Diamond League on July 20, 2024, and secured the 100m gold at the Paris Olympics with a time of 9.784 seconds, narrowly beating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. He also took bronze in the 200m with a time of 19.70 seconds, finishing behind Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek.
In contrast, Tebogo made history as Botswana’s first Olympic gold medalist in the 200m and set a world best in the 300m at 30.69 seconds in February 2024. He played a crucial role in Botswana’s success in the 4x400m relay, winning gold at the World Athletics Relays and silver at the Olympics.
On his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin said, “The numbers are there. Tebogo started the season with a 300m world record… He finished it all by running 9.8 in the 100m and winning the 200m gold. He definitely had an MVP-type season.” Co-host Rodney Greene argued strongly for Tebogo, but Gatlin praised Lyles for his performance under pressure, calling him “clutch.”
Gatlin noted, “Noah wasn’t even the favorite for the 100m, but he stepped up under immense pressure and won the race. It was a hard race to win… He wasn’t the fastest on paper, but he still pulled through.” He reflected on Thompson’s impressive 9.77 in the semi-final, acknowledging the mental challenge Lyles faced. “When you watch the fastest person on paper run… and still register 9.77, it must have been hard for Noah to take, but he pushed through.”
As both athletes have compelling cases, Gatlin continues to weigh his options for the most valuable athlete of 2024, highlighting the remarkable performances of both Tebogo and Lyles this season.
