Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has revealed how a poignant memory of his late mother clouded his mind before his recent 100m victory at the Rome Diamond League meet.
The Olympic 200m champion not only clocked an impressive time but did so while battling intense personal grief.
Tebogo, who glanced back at his competitors as he eased off in the final 15 meters, crossed the finish line in an outstanding 9.87 seconds.
However, the sprinter shared that his performance was overshadowed by memories of his mother, who passed away earlier this year.
“I wouldn’t say I was in great shape because I had too many mental breakdowns a few hours before the race. I tried to keep positive. And I meditated before the race,” Tebogo confessed.
The loss of his mother, Seratiwa Tebogo in May was a devastating blow for the young athlete.
Despite the immense pain, Tebogo did not display his struggles openly.
“I missed my mum but I didn’t try and show it to anybody that the boy is not OK. I just remained calm, just in my corner, thought over it, and then just let it go,” he added.
The meet in Rome was not just a test of physical prowess but also a monumental challenge of emotional endurance for Tebogo.
The field was strong, featuring former world champions Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley from the United States, who finished second and third respectively.
. Kenyan sprinter Ferdinard Omanyala and Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu trailed behind, while Tokyo Olympics champion Marcell Jacobs finished last.
Yet, it was Tebogo who emerged victorious, signaling not just a triumph over his rivals but also over his personal adversities.
The significance of this victory extends beyond the track.
After the loss of his mother, Tebogo took nearly a month off from training—a critical period, especially as his competitors were fine-tuning their preparations for the Olympics.
However he returned to the sport to win Olympic gold in the 200m surprising many.
