5 fastest men in 200m this year ahead of Paris Olympics 2024 ft. Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek

By Zahid Rashid Dar

Modified Jul 11, 2024 17:38 GMT

With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, top sprinters like Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek are gearing up for the 200m race. The track has seen some swift times this season, with Americans leading the charts.

One factor behind American sprinters at the top of the charts this season is the highly competitive nature of the US Olympic Track and Field Trials. For instance, Christian Coleman missed out on the team despite clocking 19.89s. Let's take a look at the top five fastest 200m sprinters of the season leading up to the Paris Olympics.

Five fastest men in 200m this year ahead of Paris Olympics

#5 Tarsis Gracious Orogot

Tarsis Gracious Orogot (right) is the fifth fastest 200m man in 2024 (IMAGE: GETTY)

Tarsis Gracious Orogot is a Ugandan sprinter who specializes in 200m. He clocked his personal best of 19.75s this season at the SEC Track and Field Championships. It is also the fifth fastest time of the 2024 outdoor season.

Orogot has run only one more sub-20 race this season, winning the Tom Jones Memorial in 19.90s. This also marked his outdoor season debut.

#4 Letsile Tebogo

Letsile Tebogo clocked 19.71 seconds this year (IMAGE: GETTY)

Letsile Tebogo is a sprinting sensation from Botswana who specializes in 200m sprints. He has raced only twice in the half-lap event this season, clocking a best of 19.71 at the Kip Keino Classic. Tebogo was the first man to break the sub-20 barrier in 2024, clocking 19.94s at the ASA Athletics Grand Prix in March.

Tebogo's career-best personal time is 19.5s. He is also slated to run at the Monaco Diamond League before the 2024 Olympics. The 21-year-old is among the favorites to get on the podium in Paris.

#3 Courtney Lindsey

Courtney Lindsey is the third fastest man of 2024 (IMAGE: GETTY)

Courtney Lindsey is the third-fastest American in 200m this season, as well as the third-fastest in the world. He clocked a personal best of 19.71s at the Kip Kieno Classic 2024 to tie with Letsile Tebogo for first place. The 25-year-old also ran in 19.88s at the Tom Jones Memorial.

Lindsey couldn't qualify for the Paris Olympics though, as he couldn't run sub-20 at the US Trials.

#2 Kenny Bednarek

Kenny Bednarek will be one of the favorites at the Paris Olympics this year (IMAGE: GETTY)

Bednarek has been in impressive form this season, qualifying for both 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics 2024. He clocked a personal best of 19.59s in the 200m finals at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials, finishing second to Lyles.

Bednarek had earlier clocked a world-leading 19.67s at the Doha Diamond League this year. Some of his other times of the season include 19.89, 19.96, 20.28 and 20.35. He is also among the top medal contenders at the Paris Olympics 2024.

#1 Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles fastest 200m runner of 2024 (IMAGE: GETTY)

Lyles is the fastest American in 200m history and the third fastest in the world. He leads the charts for the 2024 season with a blistering 19.53 at the Olympic Trials, where he won both 100m and 200m events.

Lyles has a personal best of 19.31s but will hope to break Usain Bolt's world record of 19.19 at the Olympics. He has shown good form in 2024 and does have a good chance of nearing Bolt's timing. His other 200m times of the season are 19.60, 19.77, and 20.10, all of which came in the preliminary round at trials.