21 Aug 2023

Botswana flag was hoisted in Hungary, Budapest when 20-year-old Letsile Tebogo won a silver medal with a National Record of 9.88 in the 100m race at the ongoing World Athletics Championships final Sunday August 20. 

Tebogo delivered the country second World Athletics Championship medal after Amantle Montsho won gold medal in 400m in 2011 in Daegu, South Korea. The athlete showed intention of winning a medal from the heat to semi-finals, as it was evident that he was reserving a lot of energy for where it mattered most. 

During the race, he came with all guns blazing even posing a threat to American Noah Lyles who eventually won the race. 

His coach Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane said he was happy with Tebogo’s performance given that at the start of the season, they had set themselves a target of making it to the finals. 

“A medal is a bonus for us and I am happy we have surpassed our target,” he said. 

Mosimanyane said their focus was on the 200m race. Kenyan journalist Ayumba Ayodi said in an interview that winning a first medal in the 100m race for Africa at the World Athletics Championships was a great achievement not only to Botswana but the continent. 

“Kenya is happy for the youngster and for sure Tebogo is the next Usain Bolt. He is the person to break Bolt’s 100m World record,” he said. Another Kenyan journalist Elias Makori said Africa was celebrating Tebogo’s feat. 

“Remember the World Athletics started in 1983 and Africa has never won a medal in the 100m race. 

He made history and as a continent, we are so proud of him and from his running style, he is likely to break the World Record,” he said. 

Former Botswana Athletics Association secretary Patrick Moesi said Tebogo ran the race of his life. 

“From start to finish, he was brilliant. I cannot fault him in any way. His takeoff was one of the best and once he reached his top-end speed he was flawless. It had to take only a special thing from Lyles to beat him,” he said. He said Tebogo had announced himself to the big stage. Ends