29 Aug 2023

Botswana’s sprint sensation, Letsile Tebogo, will miss the Zurich Diamond League meeting tomorrow due to a grade 1 hamstring strain. 

According to his coach, Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane, the athlete sustained the injury while they were preparing for the 200 metres competition in Budapest, Hungary. 

“Just from the heat, he went into the semis with that pain and he lined up in the finals where he finished in position three with that pain,” he explained. 

The coach said the scan results indicated that Tebogo sustained a grade 1 hamstring strain. 

“Therefore, we won’t be able to take part in any other Diamond League meeting expect the 100 metres final. For now, we are still waiting to see if we have qualified,” he said. 

Furthermore, he said they would now focus on recovery, which he said was more important in terms of preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Mosimanyane further said the injury was not career threatening, adding that they wanted it to be attended so that it was not aggravated. 

He said if not attended properly and timely, it could end up being chronic, hence they took a deliberate decision to pull him out of the 4x400 metres relay at the World Championships and some Diamond League competitions. 

The coach said Tebogo would only be ready to compete once the doctors had dealt with his injury.

The world was looking forward to the World Championships 200 metres final repeat and also to see if Noah Lyles would continue to dominate the track, or if Tebogo would end his dominance. 

The Zurich start list is made up of Americans World Championships champion, Lyles, silver medallist Erriyon Knighton and Kenneth Bednarek, Canadians Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown. 

There is also Zharnel Hughes from Great Britain and Swiss William Reais. 

Meanwhile, according to research on the Internet, mild hamstring strains (grade 1) will usually cause sudden pain and tenderness at the back of the thigh. 

It may be painful to move the leg, but the strength of the muscle should not be affected. 

Partial hamstring tears (grade 2) are usually more painful and tender. 

The expected recovery period is usually estimated between three and eight weeks with diligent home therapy. ENDs