Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has revealed new insights into his historic victory at the Paris Olympics where he emerged as the first athlete from his nation to clinch an Olympic gold medal.
Tebogo’s triumph in the 200m dash was not just a win against the competitors but also a personal battle coming after significant emotional and physical challenges, including the loss of his mother.
At a recent press conference ahead of the Zurich Diamond League, Tebogo shared the stage with other athletic luminaries like Grant Holloway and Masai Russell, but the conversation invariably turned back to that defining Paris race.
“I wouldn’t put it that way, but it feels amazing to be Olympic 200m champion, because, the whole thing, my mummy passing away, we just put all focus on the 200m, because the 100m wasn’t easy, it needed so much work to be done,” Tebogo explained as quoted by Sportkeeda.
The young sprinter also delved into his tactical approach and the psychological warfare often inherent in track and field.
“But, with the 200m, we know that any medal is possible, but me going into the final with what I did on the semi-final, it gave me a confidence booster, but to myself I was like, maybe he’s playing mind games, but when he went off the band, I didn’t see him on my left, I was like, okay, now it’s just time for me to execute everything,” he said.
In Paris, Tebogo stopped the clock at an impressive 19.46s, outpacing American favorite Noah Lyles, who finished third with a time of 19.70s while battling the effects of COVID-19. Kenny Bednarek of the USA claimed the silver medal, making it a tightly contested race among some of the world’s best sprinters.
Following his Olympic stint, Tebogo continued to dominate at the Lausanne Diamond League, where he again bested formidable opponents, including Erriyon Knighton and Fred Kerley, with a time of 19.62s.
Tebogo’s victory has resonated deeply back home in Botswana and across the African continent.
“The support was really amazing to see. 30,000 plus people in the stadium, along the roads, coming back home and I believe my life has changed and I have changed a lot of lives in my home country,” Tebogo commented, acknowledging the impact of his achievements beyond the track.
The 21-year-old sprinter views his success as a beacon of possibility and inspiration particularly for the African continent.
