Former Olympics and world 100m champion Justin Gatlin was left surprised by Letsile Tebogo’s dominant victory in Rome on Friday.
Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Tebogo brought the Diamond League meeting in Rome to a startling conclusion as he overhauled world indoor champion Christian Coleman and Olympic bronze medallist Fred Kerley to win the men’s 100m in 9.87.
Riding a wave of confidence since his Olympics gold medal win in 200m, Tebogo looked across the track with 20 metres to go and started celebrating as soon as he saw he was passing Coleman.
That arrogance on the track left Gatlin impressed, terming his race and the manner he did it “scary.”
“Great showing for Coleman, but to watch Tebogo shut it down at 80m was scary,” Gatlin posted on X.
Tebogo may deny he is the new face of sprinting but his actions speak differently.
The 21-year-old, who finished sixth in the Olympic 100m final in a national record of 9.86, overhauled Coleman, the fast-starting 60m world record holder, and Kerley over the final 30 metres, turning to face them before crossing the line with a broad smile.
“I told myself if I have a perfect start, I know I can beat anybody because there’s still more in the tank going into the 200m and 100m ahead of the Diamond League final,” Tebogo said after the race.
Coleman, who failed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, was second in 9.92, with Kerley third in 9.95.
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala finished seventh in 10.08.
With Jamaica’s Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson a late withdrawal, fans were left wondering what might have been had he been present.
