Letsile Tebogo: Africa’s new banner in the 200m

It was August 6, a sunny day in Barcelona 1992 Olympics. Wind assistance was pegged at -1.0 m, surely not ideal to the finalists. But the fans didn’t care. They were there to see some best 200m runners the world had to offer at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

The startlist featured the USA’s top sprinters Michael Marsh and Michael Bates, Nigeria’s duo of Olapade Adeniken and Oluyemi Kayode and Great Britain duo John Regis and Marcus Adam. But the African to watch then was Frankie Fredericks of Namibia.

Fredericks had won silver at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo a year earlier with a time of 20.34s and was one of the favorites for gold. When the gun went off in Barcelona, Fredericks got off to a good start but as the race went on, Michael Marsh went ahead of the pack, and Fredericks settled for silver with 20.13s, becoming the first African to win a medal in that event.

It happened again four years later in 1996 and this time, Michael Johnson took gold with an impressive 19.32s. It was still a good run for Fredericks, who recorded 19.68s, an African record at the time.

Fredericks ended his athletics career with an admirable CV, winning a total of four Olympic silver medals in the 100m and 200m, one gold and three silver medals at the World Championships with several other medals in the African Games, African Championships and Commonwealth Games.

He was the consensus best 200m runner Africa had ever seen, breaking 20 seconds for the event 24 times.

Out with the old, in with the new

On July 12, 2002, in Rome, Fredericks won the 200 metres in a time of 19.99 seconds at the age of 34 years 283 days. Almost one year later, Africa’s new king was born in Kanye, a village in Southern Botswana.

With the nickname, ‘School Boy’, Letsile Tebogo grew up with a passion for football, devoting time to it on the streets of Botswana. But his talent in sprinting was there for his peers and the people of Kanye to see.

“I used to run past people and won medals. I also played football. Every time though I went to play football I was being benched,” he explained in an interview with Runblog.com.

Tebogo focused on running on the tracks, gaining strength daily but the world really took notice in August 2021 at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi where he won the 100m and finished second in the 200m. His legend was on the rise.

He cemented his place as one of the best U-20 runners at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia, breaking the record to win the 100m in just 9.91s. He also set the African record in the 200m with 19.96s. Tebogo was ready for the big leagues.

The 2023 World Championships in Budapest was Noah Lyles’ event, winning both the 100m and 200m gold, but right behind him was Tebogo, who won silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m.

Paris 2024 provided an opportunity for the 21-year-old to cement his name as the best in the world, but he had to get past self-proclaimed fastest man, Noah Lyles and a host of other great sprinters.

• Noah Lyles reveals COVID-19 battle after 200m disappointment
• Botswana declares public holiday to celebrate Tebogo’s 200m gold at Paris Olympics

Tebogo found little success in the 100m final, missing out on the podium as Lyles took gold. However, the 200m provided some hope. With a time of 20.10s, the man from Botswana easily finished first in heat 3 and built on that in the semis with 19.96s to book his spot in the final.

Standing in his way to gold were Lyles, Bednerek and Knighton; three fast sprinters for the USA. In the end, Tebogo was victorious, hitting his chest as he crossed the finish with the new African Record and world-leading time of 19.46s. Tebogo dedicated the medal to his mother, Elizabeth Seratiwa, who passed away last May.

Leslie Tebogo wins GOLD at the 200m with 19.46s

Bednerek finished second and Noah Lyles finished third#3SportsGH #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/TG5DsJbLlH

— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) August 8, 2024

“I believe she could be one of the happiest people on the planet. Because she believed in me and I had so much doubt for myself. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy.” he said.

Letsile Tebogo’s golden tribute to late mother

His victory means he did what Fredericks and no other African could do, win Olympic gold in 200m. It’s no surprise that Botswana’s president approved a public holiday after the race. Tebogo’s achievement is beyond massive, not just for his country but for the continent as a whole.

Celebrate this win Letsile. You’re the new king of Africa’s 200m.

The post Letsile Tebogo: Africa’s new banner in the 200m first appeared on 3News.

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