Tebogo prepares for Tokyo Worlds, balancing fierce rivalry with Noah Lyles and his quiet focus on performance.

Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo has set his sights firmly on World Championship success in Tokyo, declaring that he will “let his legs do the talking” as he prepares to face fierce rival Noah Lyles.

The 22-year-old Botswanan enters the competition riding a wave of national pride after winning his country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in Paris last year.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Now, as the global spotlight shifts to Japan, he is aiming to add a world title to his growing list of achievements.

“I’m one person who always shies away from the media, but the sport forces me to step up, up my game into becoming a sports personality,” Tebogo said while visiting a primary school in Tokyo ahead of the championships as per AFP.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about what do you want to see: to be on the spotlight or off the spotlight. For me, I choose off the spotlight and then just my legs do the talking.”

Tebogo’s understated demeanor contrasts sharply with the flamboyance of Lyles, who finished third in Paris but edged the Botswanan by two-hundredths of a second at the Diamond League finals in Zurich just two weeks ago.

Their rivalry is expected to dominate the narrative when the championships begin on Saturday, with both sprinters also contesting the 100m.

The Botswanan remains confident in his approach, insisting he will not buckle under the weight of expectation despite carrying the hopes of an entire nation.

“Once you invite pressure inside yourself, then it means you are not doing it for yourself, you are doing it for the people,” he said.

“Yes, you should do it for the people but it’s you first and then the people later.”

The clash with Lyles has become one of the sport’s most intriguing storylines.

Tebogo, who labeled the American “arrogant” after the Olympic final, has embraced their differences as a healthy balance for athletics.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about what do you want to see,” he said, underlining that personality off the track should not overshadow performance on it.

After silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m at Budapest two years ago, he believes Tokyo offers the perfect stage to complete his set with gold.

Beyond medals, Tebogo is conscious of the impact he has as a role model. Athletics, he has said, saved him from a potential life of crime, and today he channels that journey into inspiring others through his role as a global ambassador for the Kids Athletics development programme.

“I’m so excited to see how the Japanese relay culture works and I really can’t wait to work with these kids because we had a fun time in Botswana,” Tebogo said.

“I believe we’re also going to have fun here.”

Tebogo will be stepping onto the track this weekend carrying not only the weight of competition but also the hopes of young fans worldwide who see him as proof that dreams can be achieved.

His message remains consistent: stay humble, avoid pressure, and let performance define legacy.