Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has rapidly emerged as one of the brightest stars in the world of athletics, breaking barriers and setting records on his journey. Born in Kanye, a rural town in Botswana, Tebogo’s ascent to becoming an elite sprinter is a testament to his determination, raw talent, and cultural heritage.
Tebogo’s athletic journey began in his hometown, where he was introduced to sports at a young age. He started with soccer, like many children in Botswana.
One lesser-known fact about him is that sprinting wasn’t Letsile Tebogo’s first passion. Football initially drew him into athletics, but things didn’t go as planned. Frequent injuries kept him on the bench, leading him to shift his focus to sprinting full-time.
At the age of six, Tebogo was already a footballer and sprinter. He was encouraged by his teachers to practice both sports, but injuries hindered his footballing career. The injuries caused him to quit football and give full attention to athletics.
In an interview with Runblogrun.com, Letsile Tebogo, revealed, “I used to run past people and win medals. I also played football. Every time I went to play football, I was being benched. This made me frustrated and prompted my decision to go back to athletics as I saw (that) I am able to put food on the table for my family from that.”
At the 2016 Botswana Primary Schools Sports Association Championships, he won the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay, earning his first call up to the national team.
He again went on to claim the 200m bronze and helped his team to win silver in the 4x100m relay at the Confederation of School’s sports Association of Southern Africa Championships in Namibia. He did this at age 13.
He raced his first major 100m in 10.68seconds and clocked 21.12 in the 200m in 2019 when he took his athletics career seriously.
“For a while, I didn’t pay attention to athletics until about 2018-2019 when I realized I could go professional with it.” He said in the interview with Runblogrun.com.
Tebogo at the World U20 Championships in 2021, won the 100m gold medal and took silver in the 200m. This success was just the beginning. In 2022, he set a new world U20 record in the 100m with a time of 9.91 seconds, further establishing himself as a formidable force on the track.
In February, he ran a 300m race in 30.69 seconds setting a new world record yet to be broken.
His breakthrough on the senior stage came in 2023 at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where Tebogo made history by becoming the first African to win a silver medal in the 100m at the event. This achievement further solidified his place among the world’s top sprinters.
The pinnacle of Tebogo’s career so far came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he won the gold medal in the 200m, clocking a stunning time of 19.46 seconds. This victory made him the first African to win an Olympic gold in the 200m, a milestone that has elevated him to legendary status in his home country. His win at the 024 Olympic games won him a national applause, with the President of Botswana declaring an afternoon off from work to celebrate his victory.
Throughout his journey, Tebogo has stayed grounded, often reflecting on his roots. He prepares for races by listening to traditional songs from his childhood, a ritual that connects him to his heritage and helps him maintain focus amid the pressures of international competition.
