Noah Lyles began his 2025 track season in style with a dominant performance in the men’s 200m at the Monaco leg of the Wanda Diamond League. Clocking a swift 19.88 seconds, Lyles sent a clear message to his rivals and fans alike: he’s back, focused, and aiming for more glory this season.

Under the bright lights of Stade Louis II and against a strong field, the reigning world champion accelerated smoothly out of the curve and stormed down the straight with the poise and power that have made him a global sprinting icon. Though the time was not his fastest ever, it was enough to secure the win—and to remind the world of his relentless consistency in a stacked sprinting era.

Following his victory, Lyles spoke candidly about his goals, mindset, and what it means to open the season on such a high note.

“I’m satisfied with the result,” he said in his post-race interview. “First races are always a bit tricky—you never know exactly how the body will respond when the gun goes off. But I felt good today. The 19.88 shows we’re on the right path.”

Lyles has made Monaco a favorite stop on the Diamond League calendar. It’s the venue where he has produced some of his best performances, and it’s clear he thrives in its electrifying atmosphere. “This crowd always brings it,” he said with a smile. “There’s something special about racing here. The energy pushes you.”

When asked about his race execution, the American sprinter was thoughtful and analytical. “The curve felt solid—I stayed relaxed and in control. Coming into the straight, I just focused on holding form and driving through. There’s still a lot to sharpen up, but for the season opener, I’m happy.”

With the 2025 World Championships and the Olympic cycle looming ahead, the stakes are high for Lyles, who remains the man to beat in the 200m. After completing a historic sprint double last year and maintaining his unbeaten streak in major finals, expectations are soaring.

“People always want to talk about pressure,” Lyles said. “But for me, it’s more about opportunity. I love what I do. I’ve learned to embrace the spotlight. Every race is a chance to get better, to inspire, to win.”

His victory in Monaco also served as a reminder of his strategic growth. Once known primarily for his flamboyant finishes and explosive top-end speed, Lyles now demonstrates a more mature race strategy—balancing rhythm, technique, and timing across all phases of the 200m.

The win positions Lyles well heading into the heart of the season, where he is expected to feature in high-profile matchups against rising stars like Letsile Tebogo and seasoned contenders like Erriyon Knighton and Andre De Grasse.

“This is just the beginning,” Lyles concluded. “We’re building toward something special. The plan is to peak when it matters most, but this win is a great start.”

With 19.88 as his opening marker, Noah Lyles has shown he’s once again the standard in the 200m. The track world should buckle up—Lyles i

s just getting started.

Julien Alfred delivered a statement performance at the Monaco leg of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League, storming to victory in the women’s 100 meters and reminding the athletics world why she remains one of the sport’s most electrifying sprinters.

After facing recent setbacks and criticism, the Saint Lucian star responded in the most emphatic way possible—crossing the line first in a season’s best time of 10.85 seconds against a world-class field.

Alfred’s triumph comes at a crucial time in the athletics calendar, with the Paris 2025 World Championships fast approaching.

Her performance in Monaco not only reasserted her credentials as a medal contender but also showcased her resilience and hunger following a disappointing outing at the previous Diamond League meet in Stockholm, where she finished outside the top three. That result raised questions about her form and readiness, but she silenced doubters in emphatic fashion on Friday night.

From the gun, Alfred was locked in. Her reaction time was sharp, and within the first 30 meters, she had already taken control of the race.

Known for her explosive start and smooth transition, Alfred never relinquished the lead. The pressure from American sprinter Tamari Davis and Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou behind her did little to shake her composure. With laser focus and powerful strides, Alfred powered through the line with daylight between her and the competition.

“I knew I had something to prove,” Alfred said in her post-race interview. “The last few weeks have been tough, but I went back, trained harder, focused mentally, and came here with a point to make. Monaco has always been a fast track, and I’m happy to have executed well tonight.”

The victory was not just symbolic—it was strategic. Winning in Monaco earns valuable Diamond League points and crucial momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. With several top sprinters vying for spots in the Diamond League Final and the World Championships podium, every race matters. Alfred’s time of 10.85 seconds was her best of the season and places her firmly among the world’s top five sprinters this year.

Fans and analysts alike praised her return to form. Many noted that while Julien Alfred might not always command the same headlines as global superstars like Sha’Carri Richardson or Shericka Jackson, she is quietly becoming one of the most consistent performers on the circuit. Her blend of raw speed, technical execution, and mental toughness is making her a dangerous contender in any field.

Alfred’s win also holds historical significance for Saint Lucia. Already a national icon after becoming the first athlete from the Caribbean island to medal at a global championship, her continued excellence is inspiring a new generation of sprinters from the region. Each victory solidifies her legacy and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible for athletes from smaller nations.

As the Wanda Diamond League continues and the countdown to the World Championships intensifies, Julien Alfred’s performance in Monaco will be remembered as a turning point in her 2025 season—a night when she bounced back, silenced the noise, and sprinted her way back into the gl

obal spotlight.

An action-packed 2025 Monaco Diamond League is in the books and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:41.44) and Noah Lyles (19.88) were the big winners in the marquee races of the day, the men’s 800 and 200 meters.

In other distance action, Yomif Kejelcha (12:49.46 in 5,000) and Soufiane El Bakkali (8:03.18 in steeple) both notched their second straight Diamond League wins after running aggressively early on (but fading late) while Addy Wiley set an American record of 2:30.71 in the 1000 meters in a race won by Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir (2:29.77).

We broke down all the action on our live reaction show on YouTube on Friday, which you can also get as a podcast by joining the LetsRun.com Supporters Club. *Full Results

Below, a few more final thoughts on Monaco.

Men’s 800: Wanyonyi runs another WL, Arop struggles as his tactics don’t pay off

With all eight of last year’s Olympic finalists on the start line in Monaco (plus three more sub-1:44 men, including World Indoor champ Josh Hoey), the men’s 800 featured one of the strongest 800 fields ever assembled.

And, just as in last year’s Olympics in Paris, Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi was the winner as he ran his second straight world-leading time of 1:41.44 (an improvement on his 1:41.95 in Stockholm on June 15).

Courtesy Diamond League AG

Wanyonyi was clearly the class of the field today, getting the lead by 200 and never surrendering it. Last year, Wanyonyi ran his three fastest times at the meet directly before the Olympics, at the Olympics, and at the meet directly after the Olympics. Worlds are still two months away, and Wanyonyi has improved in each of his five 800m races so far in 2025.

While there aren’t any meets after Worlds this year, if he can stay healthy, he should be in position to challenge David Rudisha’s 1:40.91 WR at the Diamond League final (August 27-28) or Worlds.

Canada’s Marco Arop has been Wanyonyi’s biggest rival over the last two years, but he was never a factor in Monaco after going out too slowly (he was last at 200 in 25.6, nearly two seconds behind Wanyonyi, and was still 10th at 400 in 51.2).

Arop has had success going from last-to-first in the past (he did it to win Worlds in 2023), but today he allowed the gap to grow big – he was more than 1.5 seconds behind Wanyonyi at 400. That was always going to be a struggle to overcome given he would have to run extra distance to pass people while Wanyonyi had a clean run from the front. There are races where last-to-first can work, but a fast 11-person Diamond League isn’t usually one of them unless the leaders go out way too fast.

Today’s race was Wanyonyi’s sixth career sub-1:42, one shy of Rudisha’s all-time record. Considering Wanyonyi is still just 20 years old, he seems certain to smash that record in the years to come, barring injury.

Josh Hoey moves up to #2 on the all-time US list in a great day for Justin Rinaldi’s Fast 8 Track Club

Josh Hoey got shut out of the big European races last summer, so he went big indoors this year with the hope of running fast enough to get into Diamond Leagues in 2025. The first part of the plan went perfectly as Hoey ran 1:43 and won World Indoors.

That got him into some top-quality races this summer, and Hoey has taken full advantage. He just wrapped a four-race European trip with three personal bests and four top-3 finishes against some very strong fields:

June 15, Stockholm: 3rd in 800, 1:42.43 pb

June 20, Paris: 2nd in 800, 1:43.00

June 24, Ostrava: 3rd in 1500, 3:29.75 pb

July 11, Monaco: 2nd in 800, 1:42.01 pb

Hoey now ranks #5 on the all-time US list in the 1500, and his 1:42.01 in Monaco today moved him to #2 on the all-time US list in the 800, bumping Donavan Brazier (1:42.34) down to #3.

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Midway through 2025, two things are clear:

1) Hoey is the 800m favorite at USAs. For the last two years, Bryce Hoppel has been the best 800m runner in America. But Hoppel has raced Hoey five times in 2025, and Hoey has won all five. One of those was a road mile in April, and Hoppel was dealing with stomach issues in the 800 in Stockholm. But there can be no excuses today after Hoey beat Hoppel by 1.50 seconds in Monaco.

2) Hoey can medal at Worlds this year. This race featured all of the fastest guys in the world, and Hoey beat all of them except for Wanyonyi . This event is loaded right now, so the margins are thin, but Hoey was more than half a second up on 4th. But there is no reason Hoey can’t be one of the guys standing on the podium in Tokyo in September.

Hoey’s run was part of a great day for his coach Justin Rinaldi as another Rinaldi-coached athlete, Peter Bol, ran 1:42.55 to finish 4th and take more than a second off the previous

Australian record (1:43.79 by Bol at the Australian championships in April). Bol, who was 4th in the 2021 Olympic final, looked to be on the downswing of his career after failing to break 1:45 last year but has responded with the best season of his life at age 31.

For more on Hoey and his big improvement this year, check out our two-part series on him from May:

Men’s 200: Noah Lyles takes down Letsile Tebogo in battle of Olympic champions

Courtesy Diamond League AG

Noah Lyles entered his 200m showdown with fellow Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo as an underdog – Lyles had not raced in almost three months while Tebogo was coming off a world-leading 19.76 in Eugene just six days ago. But on Friday, Tebogo was the one who looked rusty, never able to close the gap on Lyles in the home straight as Lyles won in 19.88 to Tebogo’s 19.97.

“I put myself in the fire for that one coming back against Tebogo,” Lyles said. “I didn’t feel any pressure, I don’t see any reason to put pressure on myself because that’s what we love to do. I pray for times like this to be out here and do what I love.”

The times were slowed by a 0.8 m/s headwind, so Tebogo’s 19.97 was not as far off his Pre Classic performance as it seemed.

Converting for wind, Tebogo’s 19.97 in Monaco was worth 19.91 in still conditions, while his 19.76 (+0.7) in Eugene was worth 19.82 (Lyles’ time today was worth 19.81). But Tebogo, who was only .02 ahead of third-placer Makanakaishe Charamba, said he was disappointed with his performance. He noted his warmup was cut short but still said that was no excuse.

As for Lyles, this was a good result that shows that he will very much be a factor at Worlds again this year despite not racing in May and June. His next race is in the 100m next weekend in London.

Women’s 1000: Nelly Chepchirchir stays undefeated as Addy Wiley breaks her own American record

Courtesy Diamond League AG

Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir, who was 5th in the 1500 at Worlds as a 20-year-old in 2023, won her seventh race in as many starts in 2025 by taking down Olympic silver medalist Jessica Hull in the 1000m in Monaco.

Hull, who just ran 3:52 in Eugene last week, went in trying to challenge Svetlana Masterkova’s 2:28.93 world record, and was still on pace to do it at 800, which she hit in 1:58.6. But Hull, who had already been passed by Chepchirchir (1:58.4) at that point, would fade badly over the final 200 (32.3) while Chepchirchir, who went out a little less aggressively, held on to win in 2:29.77 to become just the fourth woman ever under 2:30.

Chepchirchir, whose 1500 best is 3:56.14, may not have the 1500 flash pb of Hull, Diribe Welteji, or Georgia Hunter Bell, but with DL wins in Doha, Rabat, Paris, and now Monaco, she is clearly a threat to medal in Tokyo.

Addy Wiley took 2nd in 2:30.71 with Sinclaire Johnson 4th in 2:31.30 as both were under the American record of 2:31.49 that Wiley set in 2024. With Wiley also the US leader in the 800 (1:57.55) and Johnson #2 in the 1500 (3:56.93), both women are well-positioned to make Worlds this year (Wiley in 800, Johnson in 1500). Wiley probably wishes the 1000 was an event at Worlds as it really seems to be her sweet spot.

Men’s 5000/steeple: Yomif Kejelcha & Soufiane El Bakkali hold on to win after shooting for super fast times

The men’s 5k and steeple played out similarly as in each race, one guy set out alone to run a super fast time, faded late, but hung on for the win.

In the 5k, that man was, unsurprisingly, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha. Kejelcha, who owns a 12:38 pb from last year, had already tried to do that twice this year, and after going out in 7:42 in Oslo (and running 12:49) and 7:37 in Paris (and running 12:47), he tried to Goldilocks it and went out in 7:39 in Monaco. In the end, the result was basically the same as he had nothing left over the final kilometer (2:38) but won comfortably in 12:49.46.

Afterwards, Kejelcha had some interesting things to say.

“I am really happy, especially because this also might be my last 5000m as I might move to road racing after World Championships,” Kejelcha said. “It makes me really satisfied that I got the win in Monaco today. I am proud of myself and of my coach. I will try to make the Tokyo team in 10,000m. I am sure I will make it.”

Kejelcha’s stated to desire to run the 10,000 in Tokyo makes his decision to not run the Prefontaine 10,000 last week seem a little bizarre. As for the 5000, it sounds like he’s saying this was the last 5000 of his career.

That may sound wild, but there is only one more 5000 on the Diamond League calendar this year (August 20 in Lausanne) as the DL final will feature a 3000 on August 27 in Zurich.

And if Kejelcha did want to run the 5000 at Worlds, he may still have work to do just to make it to Worlds in the 5k. Despite his two DL wins, his 12:47 sb ranks just fourth among Ethiopians this year in the 5,000.

The rest of the heavy hitters in the 5,000 struggled as Hagos Gebrhiwet was just 7th in 12:58 while Stockholm winner Andreas Almgren dropped out with a hamstring cramp at 3k after running with the leaders.

Courtesy Diamond League

In the steeple, El Bakkali ran even more aggressively than Kejelcha, setting the Wavelight to world record pace (7:52.11). He hit 2k just behind the lights in 5:17.9 (7:56 pace) but slowed mightily and blew a 40-meter lead on the last lap to Japan’s Ryuji Miura, who passed him before the final barrier.

El Bakkali showed some fire by summoning a kick to run Miara down to win in 8:03.18, with Miura’s 8:03.43 for second a massive improvement on his 8:09.91 national record from 2023.

We are now into mid-July and there are still no Kenyans or Ethiopians in the top 3 in the world this year in the steeple. El Bakkali is the world leader at 8:00.70 with Germany’s Frederik Ruppert (8:01.49) and Miura next on the list.

Ruppert struggled today (14th in 8:24), falling in the first 100 meters (not on a barrier) and never fully recovering (Editor’s note – Please call a race back if someone falls in the first 100).

Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks of the US also struggled, taking 15th in 8:28. The other two Americans, both Olympians from 2024, ran a lot better as Matthew Wilkinson got his second straight pb, running 8:10.23 for 9th while Rooks’ training partner James Corrigan was 11th in 8:14.76.

3 Quick Sprint Thoughts

Aaliyah Butler is coming on strong

Butler was a US Olympian last year at 20 but has reached a new level in 2025.

She ran a pb of 49.26 to win the NCAA 400m title for Georgia on June 14, and today went even faster, 49.09, running fearlessly and holding the lead over Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino until the final meters. While Paulino got her at the line, Butler is improving rapidly and is now #5 on the US all-time list. And she’s still only 21 years old.

Dalilah Muhammad is still running fast at 35

On the other end of the age spectrum, 35-year-old Dalilah Muhammad is in her final season running the 400 hurdles and has been turning back the clock.

After winning in Oslo in June, Muhammad ran 52.58 today for second behind Femke Bol’s 51.95 world leader. 52.58 is Muhammad’s fastest time since her silver-medal run in the 2021 Olympic final and places her firmly in the medal mix for Tokyo this year – especially if Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opts for the flat 400.

Julien Alfred runs another very fast time into a headwind

The 24-year-old Alfred is in even better form than she was last year before winning the Olympic 100-meter title; it’s just harder to tell because she has been getting unlucky with headwinds.

Last week, she ran 10.77 into a -1.5 wind at Prefontaine (converts to 10.67 in still conditions) and today ran 10.79 into a -1.4 (10.69). For reference, Alfred ran 10.72 (-0.1) in the Olympic final last year. Get her on a good track with a friendly wind and she is ready to run in the 10.6s right now.

Talk about 2025 Monaco on our world-famous messageboard:

Australia’s Gout Gout celebrates after winning

Australia’s Gout Gout celebrates after winning the men’s under-23 200m final in Monaco, maintaining his unbeaten European record. Photograph: Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters

17-year-old dazzles in under-23 200m at Diamond League meet

Bol fourth in fast 800m final that sees world record fall

The remarkable Gout Gout story speeds on with the Australian producing another blistering performance to further his European track education in Monaco.

Guesting in an invitational 200 metres at the prestigious Diamond League meeting at the Stade Louis II in the principality during his school holidays on Friday, the teenage phenomenon raced away to another striking win in 20.10 seconds into a headwind.

Australia’s Gout Gout celebrates winning the men’s 200m at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic.

Gout Gout breaks his own 200m national record in latest stunning run Read more

The 17-year-old Queenslander, who had enjoyed a remarkable European debut when he clocked an Australian record 20.02s in the Czech town of Ostrava just over two weeks ago, may have challenged the 20-second barrier again if not disadvantaged by the 1.9m/s wind in his face.

But he was delighted to maintain his European unbeaten record as he sped away off the bend to leave South African Naeem Jack (20.42s) and Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (20.28s) trailing in his wake.

“My top-end speed is my secret, so I’ve just got to focus on the first 100, first 50, and once I get out of that bend, I know I can run people down,” Gout said afterwards.

“So stay relaxed, stay focused, and just power through.”

The youngster will now head back to school in Queensland after his enjoyable first experience of top European meetings, with his first trip to a senior world championships in Japan in September very much still on track.

“I am pretty satisfied, I just got told that it was into a headwind,” he said. “I ran pretty decent so I am happy with that. I haven’t competed much this season since I have to go to school, I will be back on Monday. During the holidays is the time to compete for me.”

Just like your average teenager, Gout Gout used his school holidays to make his Diamond League debut 😉 Hear the global sensation talk about his win in the Men’s Under-23 200m. #AthleticsNation pic.twitter.com/D5sc4ygoqz

This was Gout’s first taste of the atmosphere at a big Diamond League meeting, one of the most high-profile on the circuit, but he had no intention of making his debut in the League 200m race, which was won by Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in a sizzling 19.88s, also into a slightly less strong 0.8m/s headwind.

“I didn’t compete in the main race because I just want slowly to get used to it, there is no point putting me in big races when I am running at the world championships,” Gout said. “The goal now is to go out there and have a little bit of fun.”

The battle between the two Olympic sprints champions from Paris saw the American come out on top

Noah Lyles beat Letsile Tebogo in what was a much anticipated 200m clash at the Monaco Diamond League (July 11).

The pair secured respective gold medals in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics last summer and this was the first time they had lined up against each other since the Games.

Lyles topped the Olympic 100m podium but his bid to add the 200m title to his name fell short, with Tebogo instead securing the crown in the French capital.

Afterwards, Lyles – who picked up bronze over half a lap in Paris – revealed that he tested positive for Covid-19 two days earlier.

The inimitable US athlete has raced sporadically this season and his last individual event was the 400m at April’s Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida.

Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles

Tebogo on the other hand went into Monaco off the back of an impressive world-leading 19.76 that propelled him to victory over 200m at the Prefontaine Classic.

Not only were Lyles and Tebogo drawn in lanes next to each other (seven and six respectively) in Monaco but the 18,000 strong crowd at the Stade Louis II were also treated to a light show, building up the suspense for the race.

The pair both got out the blocks well and settled into their rhythm quickly, so it was no surprise that as the stagger unwound they had an edge on the rest of the field.

Neck and neck going into the home straight, it was anyone’s call but, with around 50 metres to go, Lyles gradually pulled away from his rival and didn’t look back.

Lyles clocked 19.88 (-0.8) – the ninth fastest time of the season so far – to Tebogo’s 19.97. Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba wasn’t too far off Tebogo in the end and ran 19.99 for a fine third place.

“The audience was amazing and showed a lot of love,” Lyles said. “That is always helpful for your first race, I put myself in the fire for that one coming back against Tebogo. I didn’t feel any pressure. I don’t see any reason to put pressure on myself I pray for times like this to be out here and do what I love.

“I’ve been missing competition over the past few weeks. I was watching Prefontaine Classic and I wanted to be there but we wanted to first make sure that I am healthy and fully able to compete. I have a bye for the US Trials which makes it less stressful because it gives us the time to work on the races, so I can see what works and what doesn’t.”

Tebogo meanwhile stated that he couldn’t complete his warm-up because the athletes were called earlier than expected from the call room.

“First of all, I am disappointed in my performance,” he said. “Back in the call room, they called us in earlier than expected so I did not do my whole warm-up. But that is not an excuse. All of us came and showed up. I am always on the game, that is why I sometimes look serious. I know what to work on.”

Julien Alfred

The 100m ended the night in Monaco and Julien Alfred did not disappoint, with the Olympic champion running 10.79 into a 1.4m/s headwind.

The Saint Lucian just lost out to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden at last week’s Prefontaine Classic but she dominated in Monaco and laid down yet another marker this season. Jacious Sears and Zoe Hobbs placed second and third with 11.02 and 11.12 respectively.

“The season is going well so far,” said Alfred, who has clocked 10.75,10.77 and 10.79 so far this year. “The last week wasn’t the best for me and it showed me that I’m not where I should be and that there are things that I still need to work on.

“The season is long but I don’t have any trials so I will have time to work on the details. I took a step back and realise that I won’t put any pressure on myself this year. I was listening to all that outside noise but I focus on just Julien right now.

“I didn’t have my coach with me at the 2023 World Championships but he is going to travel with me to Tokyo. My coach has been with me since I was 17. It’s been a while given I am now 24. He knows me both inside and outside like a dad. He is also my mental coach and someone I can always talk to.”

Soufiane El Bakkali

The 3000m steeplechase was geared up to be a potential attempt on Lamecha Girma’s world record of 7:52.11 but the athletes fell way short of that mark. Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali dominated for most of the race but had to hold off a strong challenge from Japan’s Ryuji Miura to claim victory in 8:03.18, with Miura recording a national record of 8:03.43.

After a fine 1500m win at the Paris Diamond League, Nelly Chepchirchir continued her unbeaten streak this season with victory over 1000m in Monaco. Just a few months after Faith Kipyegon had challenged Svetlana Masterkova’s world 1000m record of 2:28.98 with 2:29.15, Chepchirchir also put her name high up on the all-time rankings.

The Kenyan produced a masterful run and became only the fourth woman in history to go sub-2:30 in the distance with 2:29.77. Both USA’s Addison Wiley and Australia’s Jess Hull recorded national records with 2:30.71 and 2:30.96 respectively. Jemma Reekie ran 2:31.44 for fifth.

Before Monaco, there were murmurs that David Rudisha’s world 800m record of 1:40.91 from London 2012 could be under threat. Given the calibre of the field, which included all eight Olympic finalists, it wasn’t out the realms of possibility.

In the end, Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi secured the win with 1:41.44 – the tenth fastest time in history – while America’s Josh Hoey continued his fine season with a personal best of 1:42.01 for second place. Six men went sub-1:43.

Femke Bol

There are very few meeting records that Femke Bol doesn’t hold but Lashinda Demus’s 52.63 from 2009 was the mark to beat in Monaco.

Safe to say, the Dutch athlete didn’t have too much problem bettering it. Bol didn’t just surpass that time but she also improved Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s world lead of 52.07 with an impressive 51.95. Dalilah Muhammad, in her final season, clocked 52.58 – the US athlete’s fastest time in four years.

Over in the field, Mondo Duplantis couldn’t quite set a 13th world record in the pole vault, with the Swede failing on all three attempts at 6.29m. He did however set a meeting record of 6.05m for the win.

Sanghyeok Woo also looked strong in the high jump and he took the victory with a world-leading clearance of 2.34m.

Earlier in the evening, Australian sprints teen sensation Gout Gout won the under-23 200m race in 20.20 (-1.9m/s).

Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles makes his European season debut in the 200m at the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday, back from a tendon injury with a body he says is “ready to run fast”.

The American’s much-anticipated return to elite competition comes at a timely moment as athletes continue to fine-tune their form ahead of September’s world championships in Tokyo.

Lyles will be up against Letsile Tebogo, the Botswanan who won Olympic 200m gold in Paris in a race when a Covid-hit Lyles came away with bronze.

“Everything’s been telling me like my body’s ready to run fast,” Lyles said on Thursday after recovering from an injury caused by what he said was a “freak accident”, without disclosing more details.

“I’ve been waiting quite a while. I had an inflamed tendon and it prevented me from actually being able to jog or run. I couldn’t put much pressure on it.

“I could walk, but other than walking, I couldn’t really do much.”

It was Lyles’s first proper injury since one he sustained in his first year as a professional in 2017.

Lyles, who will race over 100m in London next week, added: “That was kind of disappointing just watching everybody race. But luckily I have the bye for the world championships and it still sets my season up to be really good.”

Last season, the 27-year-old said, had made it tough to get back on the track in training after all the add-ons of becoming an Olympic 100m champion.

“I remember thinking ‘Oh, this is too early’. I want to go out, I want to enjoy the fact that I won the medal and go to events and stuff like that.

“I ended up having to take a vacation because I wasn’t able to in my off season and go and get away from track in the beginning of April because I was just so burnt out.”

Turning to Friday’s showdown with Tebogo, Lyles was confident.

“I’ve been having great practices,” he said. “I really want to see that come together on the track. I have no reason to think that it won’t. I’m going to say: yeah, I think I will run fast.”

Tebogo scorched to an impressive 19.76 seconds for victory in the 200m at the Eugene Diamond League meet last week, but played down his own expectations.

“Tomorrow’s race, I’m not expecting much,” the Botswanan said.

“Eugene has really shown we’re on the right track so tomorrow is about getting in to that new world lead again because it’s a tough competition, so it’s just to come out here and enjoy the race.”

Turning to Lyles, known for his outspoken brashness compared to Tebogo’s more muted style, he said: “We are people with different characteristics, everybody has his of her own characteristics.

“For me with Noah, he is a really good story teller, he sells events more than I do. Once he’s there on the poster, people want to come and see him.

“For me, it’s a bit different, I’m not out there like that.”

But Tebogo insisted it was good to be competing against the big names.

“It really gets me ready for a championships because you already know how they feel during the Diamond Leagues,” he said.

“When you get into the big championships, that’s when you know each and everybody’s weaknesses. And I can see where I really need to improve.”

“I was never the type of person to worry about outside noise or what’s going on. I was just always focused on working and competing and doing my job. So even if I was still here, it would be the same mentality—just getting the job done.”

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Usain Bolt, the man, the myth, the legendary sprinter who won eight Olympic Gold medals across three different Olympic Games from 2008-2016 and holds the world record in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, has recently added “Global Tourism Ambassador of Jamaica” to his list of titles.

“I’ve always been a Jamaican ambassador,” Bolt told Outside Run last week. “I’m just happy to have an official job now.” Bolt recently filmed a commercial to promote Jamaican tourism and will be traveling to other countries to meet with their ambassadors as his role evolves.

“Being an athlete, I’ve always pushed the culture of Jamaica,” Bolt said. “I’ve always been proud to promote Jamaica. My country has given me everything. Jamaicans are wonderful people, so I’ve always tried my best to give back as best as possible to this country.”

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Born in Trelawny, Jamaica, Bolt has lived in the country’s capital of Kingston since he was 17, where he spent years training on the hills and grassy fields, and, of course, the track.

These days, his favorite parts of Jamaica are the country’s rivers, where he sometimes goes rafting but most often relaxes with friends, cooks, swims, and listens to music. (He’s also a music producer.) “It’s always nice to hear the water running and just vibing, being with friends is always wonderful in nature,” he said.

We caught up with Bolt via Zoom to chat about the current state of track and field, his new role as Jamaica’s Global Tourism Ambassador, and his recent Lego obsession.

an overhead shot of a bamboo kayak on Montego Bay

Bamboo river rafting on Montego Bay in Jamaica. (Photo: Jamaica Tourist Board)

Outside Run: What was it like growing up a sprinter in Jamaica?

Usain Bolt: A lot of sprinters are from the rural area where I’m from, on the west side of Jamaica, in Sherwood Content. It’s a small community and deep in the bushes.

When I started out, we didn’t really have spikes, so it was mainly [running] barefoot. You could share spikes sometimes with other kids, but because I had big, big feet that meant I was the odd one out. Now I make sure every season the [kids in the area] get track shoes, spikes, and gear to run in, because that was a basic that we needed and we didn’t get.

Outside Run: Do you still run? Do you ever go to the track?

Usain Bolt: No, I don’t run. I try to work out in different ways, but not so much running. It gives me PTSD from those rough days of training.

When I go see my coach, I make sure I wear flip flops. The one time I wore track shoes to the track, he made me do drills to show how it should be done. So after that, I’ve only worn slippers to go see him.

Outside Run: How do you feel about how track and field has evolved since you retired in 2017?

Usain Bolt: One of the things that they are trying to implement—the Grand Slam with the top athletes that would compete in two different events, head-to-head. [And there will be] this big thing next year [the World Athletics Ultimate

Championship], where they’re going to pick the best of the best from the top 16, and then run them in heats and finals, so it’d be more intense and more competitive. They’re trying to do different things to make it more competitive, so it attracts more people because I think a lot of people like this intense competition all the time.

Outside Run: What do you think of some of today’s current athletes putting more into being influencers and ambassadors?

Usian Bolt: I’ve noticed that a lot. I think now stardom is more widespread through the sport. I notice people doing more streaming while they’re competing. They’ll make videos and put them on platforms to generate more interest. I think it comes with the generation of social media, with these younger generations. It will help the sport, for sure.

Outside Run: Are you relieved to not be racing in that era, or does part of you wish you were still involved in it?

Usain Bolt: I do miss competition. For me, I was never the type of person to worry about outside noise or what’s going on. I was just always focused on working and competing and doing my job. So even if I was still here, it would be the same mentality, just getting the job done.

Outside Run: Speaking of stardom, when was the last time you struck your famous pose? And how did that start?

Usain Bolt: I did it Monday. People always want me to do it. At first, I kind of just did it because it was something that I discussed with one of my friends before the ’08 Olympics, that we all should do a pose. I was like, ‘I’ll figure something out.’ So I kind of did it as me putting myself to the world. People saw pictures and then after I went to some track, people were like, ‘Oh, let’s do the pose.’ I was like, ‘What pose?’ That’s how it became a thing after that.

Outside Run: What do you do on your day off from working with partners, being Jamaica’s new tourism ambassador, picking up your three kids from school, etc.?

Usain Bolt: I try to relax as much as I can, because I’m always on the go, there’s always something to do. I’m really into Legos now, so I’m building Legos.

I started because my daughter got these small Lego flowers, but then she got bored and left. So, I finished it. I kind of liked it, so I got into it. The last one I did was Bumblebee from Transformers, and now I just started the Concord. It just keeps me relaxed. It’s complicated, makes you think, keeps your mind occupied. So that’s something I do with my spare time.

Outside Run: Anything else people should know about Jamaica?

Usain Bolt: Jamaica is just a wonderful place. We have the best coffee in the world in Blue Mountain coffee. And Jamaica has everything, our beaches, our rivers, party vibes in Kingston. And the people—we’re laid back, but there’s also the music and the vibe and just the energy of Jamaica. So that’s something that I wish the world could come and see.

Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles

Letsile Tebogo reflected on his contrasting personality with Noah Lyles and how it shapes their presence in the sport.

Letsile Tebogo has opened up about one of the major differences between himself and reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles.

The Olympic 200m champion often considers himself laid back as compared to Noah Lyles, the three-time world 200m champion.

Letsile Tebogo made headlines with Noah Lyles comparison conversations after winning the 200m gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.

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Letsile Tebogo Sends Defiant Message to Noah Lyles Ahead of Monaco Showdown

Letsile Tebogo Sends Defiant Message to Noah Lyles Ahead of Monaco Showdown

“For me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah. So I believe Noah’s the face of athletics,” he said.

Letsile Tebogo further clarified what he meant after labelling Noah Lyles arrogant, noting that when an athlete gets onto the track, it is all about business, but once the race is over, people can be friends and life goes on.

“But the ‘arrogance’… he’s good to sell our sport. But with me, I’ll always shy away from doing that because that’s me,” Letsile Tebogo said.

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Letsile Tebogo: Noah Lyles and I Are Different

Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles

Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles will face off in 200m at Monaco Diamond League. Photos: Imago

Letsile Tebogo revealed that many track and field fans are often focused on Noah Lyles and when he announces that he will be competing at any event, they are likely to show up in large numbers to watch him.

However, Tebogo believes that it is different on his part as many people are unaware of his life off the track, hence there is no attachment. He revealed that Noah Lyles knows how to market events well, something Letsile Tebogo has yet to figure out.

“It depends…we are people with different characteristics, everybody has his or her own characteristics. With Noah, he’s a really good storyteller, he sells a lot of events,” Letsile Tebogo said in a pre-race press conference ahead of the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco.

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“Once he is in the line-up or on the poster, people will want to come and see him. With me, it’s a bit different because I’m not out like that, so it hinders people from knowing what is going on in my life.”

Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles are due to compete in the men’s 200m race at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco.

Noah Lyles will be competing in his first 200m of the season, looking to make a mark, while Letsile Tebogo has plans to continue his hot streak from the Prefontaine Classic.