Letsile Tebogo has etched his name in history by becoming the first Botswanan—and the first African—to win gold in the 200-meter event at the Olympic Games. The 21-year-old sprinting prodigy delivered a spectacular performance at the Stade de France, clocking an African record time of 19.46 seconds.
Tebogo’s victory was not only a personal milestone but also a significant upset for the pre-race favorite, Noah Lyles. Lyles, who had electrified the audience with his stunning win in the 100m final just days before, was unable to match Tebogo’s blistering speed. Instead, Lyles finished in third place with a time of 19.70 seconds, trailing behind his compatriot Kenneth Bednarek, who claimed the silver medal with a time of 19.62 seconds. The race was further overshadowed by Lyles’ post-race revelation that he had tested positive for COVID-19, leading to him being assisted off the track in a wheelchair. While Lyles’ health issue briefly drew attention, the focus remained on Tebogo’s historic achievement.
In a poignant tribute, Tebogo dedicated his groundbreaking win to his late mother, Elizabeth Seratiwa, who passed away in May. After crossing the finish line, Tebogo displayed his racing spikes, which were adorned with his mother’s birth date and her initials painted on his fingernails.
When questioned about his aspirations to set world records or become a prominent figure in track and field, Tebogo modestly downplayed his achievements. In doing so, he subtly redirected the spotlight from himself, possibly taking a quiet dig at Lyles’ earlier confident remarks. “I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah (Lyles),” Tebogo remarked, as quoted by FloTrack.