Who’s the Fastest Man in the World Right Now?

Sprint Showdown 2025: Lyles, Knighton, and Tebogo Ignite a New Era of Speed on the Diamond League Stage

The 2025 Diamond League season is heating up fast, and the men’s sprints are once again the center of attention. Three names are defining the early action: Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, and Letsile Tebogo—each with the potential to end the season as the world’s fastest man.

Noah Lyles: The Champion with a Target on His Back

Reigning Olympic and World Champion Noah Lyles is the man to beat. Though he hasn’t yet raced on the Diamond League circuit this year, his resume speaks volumes. He clocked 9.83 in the 100m and 19.47 in the 200m during the 2024 season and claimed double gold in Paris. All eyes are on when—and where—he’ll make his 2025 Diamond League debut. With a long-standing goal of breaking Usain Bolt’s 200m world record, Lyles remains the top contender.

Erriyon Knighton: Poised to Pounce

Still just 21 years old, Erriyon Knighton hasn’t raced yet in 2025, but anticipation is building. The American phenom owns a personal best of 19.49 in the 200m, set in 2022 as a teenager. After earning Olympic silver behind Lyles in Paris, Knighton is expected to return to the track soon and challenge for dominance in both the 100m and 200m this summer.

Leslie Tebogo: The Early Season Leader

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the reigning Olympic 200m silver medalist and one of Africa’s brightest young stars, is already making headlines in 2025. He opened his season with a 10.20 in Xiamen and followed that with a 10.03 in Shanghai—finishing third in both Diamond League meets. Tebogo is scheduled to run his primary event, the 200m, at the Doha Diamond League on May 16, which could be a statement race as he builds toward the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.

What’s Next: A Collision Course

While all three athletes are on different timelines this season, the Diamond League is setting the stage for dramatic head-to-head clashes. Lyles and Knighton have yet to toe the line, while Tebogo is already building momentum. Their inevitable meeting—possibly at the Prefontaine Classic or in Europe this summer—could define the sprinting landscape in 2025.

The sprint wars are officially on. The only question left: Who will own the title of the world’s fastest man by season’s end?

posted Thursday May 15th
by Boris Baron