The newly crowned world fastest human resented lukewarm welcome in his kingdom. Noah Lyles had all the might to expect a hero’s welcome, he just redeemed American supremacy in the post-Usain Bolt Olympic sprinting. But not that much of a right, not only because he behaves like a villain, a traitor even, but more so because a gold medal bores a country that topped the medal column at least 18 times out of 29 editions of the quadrennial games.
The United States topped the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens 1896 and six of the past seven editions dating back to its own backyard in Atlanta 1996. Since then only China unseated the United States when Beijing hosted the Summer Games in 2008. Not exactly home court advantage, the red hot country lurks to topple any sports powerhouse that stands in the way.
It even shared the gold tally with the United States in Paris. But the Americans still ranked number one. They won more silvers than their golden co-equal. The United States likewise tops the all-time medal count. With more than a thousand gold. Exactly why winning another one is no longer news. Losing is.
But the brash sprinter felt the void more when Botswana savored a half day-off for national revelry. At least 30,000 people paid homage to their 200m champion. Letsile Tebogo may have lost his mother shortly before the Olympics, but he brought his country to life after he dashed to gold in 19.46s, an African record and the sixth fastest time in history.
It may be the third Olympic medal for Botswana. But the first gold. And Tebogo is the first African 200m champion, giving his country all the reasons to celebrate the monumental. America is numbed with the usual. With the way he opens his mouth faster than his legs running, Noah should have known he cannot expect warmth from his cold country with people colder to Olympic champions.
It might happen to the Philippines. After Hidilyn Diaz lifted the country to its first ever gold in Tokyo, the Filipinos expected no less than gold in Paris. Where before we were ecstatic about a solitary bronze that ended years of medal drought, now we are not content with a podium finish lower than gold.
Especially now that Carlos Yulo gave us two golds marred by a can of worms feeding on his family feud, expect us to expect more in Los Angeles. Neither bronze nor silver, gold no less. Neither one nor two, but three or more and many more about personal lives of whoever it is, or they are, who continue the golden legacy. We love gold but lust rust. Fear we must, it may not last.