"I want to see him turn it up just a little more"-Justin Gatlin weighs in on Letsile Tebogo ahead of the Paris Olympics

Retired US sprinter Justin Gatlin praised the Botswana athlete, Letsile Tebogo, for taking a comfortable victory at the Olympic Tune-up, Monaco Diamond League. Tebogo clocked 19.87s to win the 200m at the Monaco Diamond League after Noah Lyles pulled out from the roster to focus on training.

Justin Gatlin, the five-time Olympic medalist, competed on the track till he turned 40 in 2022. At the 2012 IAAF Doha Diamond League, he broke his own 100m record by running 9.74s, the fastest ever time recorded by a man over 30. He also claimed the 100m silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making him the oldest man to achieve so.

Two years into retirement, Gatlin continues to invest in track and field, especially through his Ready Set Go podcast platform. Alongside Bahamanian sprinter, Rodney Green, Justin Gatlin shares his views on different athletes and events on the podcast, In the recent episode, he dug into Letsile Tebogo's race at the 2024 Monaco Diamond League, where the latter looked 'relaxed' and 'confident', according to Gatlin.

He further wished to see him notch up his race at the 2024 Summer Games.

"He looked really relaxed. He looked confident. I want to see him turn it up just a little more. (via Ready Set Go podcast)

Rodney Green analyzed Tebogo's 200m race at the Monaco Diamond League, and claimed that he ran only the first 150 and maintained the lead to take an easy win.

"He ran that thing like a trainer run. So, he looks like he runs just the 150, does a body check and just holds the lead to just win the race."

He further recalled an interview where Tebogo pulled out a picture of his mother and said:

"I am going to do anything for her."

Justin Gatlin spotted a similarity between Usain Bolt and Letsile Tebogo

Usain Bolt became the first junior sprinter in history to win the 200m in sub20s at the 2004 CARIFTA Games, leaving a standard for the younger sprinters to meet. He then went on to break the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m world records as the greatest sprinter in history, etching an indelible mark on the sporting world.

Tebogo's success stories at just 21 years of age are reminiscent of the early success of Bolt, according to Gatlin. Letsile Tebogo became the youngest 200m 2022 African champion and broke the 300m world record in 30.69s in the Olympic build-up.

"I love the fact that he knows his position. He's a pioneer for young sprinter in Africa... People like Tebogo becoming a pioneer and the flagbearer for sprint dominance for the continent of Africa. He's help bringing forward generations to come of young sprinters who can be confident. It's the same like Usain Bolt did," Gatlin said in Ready Set Go podcast.

Justin Gatlin will bring forward his insightful takes on athletes and events at the 2024 Paris Games, slated for July 26 - August 11, 2024.