Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo Wins Historic 200m Olympic Gold

Tebogo’s historic win is a culmination of his rise in recent years, as he’s proven himself to be one of the fastest sprinters currently working. After coming sixth and missing a podium finish by 0.05 in the men’s 100m, his dominant victory in the 200m ensures he will be leaving Paris on triumphant terms.

Going into the Olympics, Tebogo carried the hopes and dreams of Botswana on his shoulders, and he has delivered. “It means a lot to me because it’s everybody’s dream to represent their country and do well as an athlete or any career that you choose,” he said just before the Olympics. “It’s always a great honor standing in the track knowing that you’re carrying a whole nation behind your back.”

Without a doubt, he’s made Batswana (and Africans) everywhere proud. Since participating in its first Olympics in 1980, Botswana has only won two medals, a men’s 800m silver by Nijel Amos in 2012, and a men’s 4x400m relay bronze in Tokyo 2020.

To celebrate, the President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi granted citizens and residents "an afternoon day off" on August 9. Masisi made the announcement via a statement released on his X page on Friday, August 9.

Tebogo will have a chance to add to his historic gold medal later this week as Botswana will take part in the men’s 4x400m event. The Botswana relay team qualified by winning gold in dominant fashion at the World Relays in The Bahamas earlier this year, with a world-leading time of 2:59.11 minutes, anchored by a blistering 43.72 seconds split by Tebogo.