05 Sep 2024

The nation should not despair as Team Botswana U20 returned from the World Athletics Junior Championships in Lima, Peru without medals. 

  Botswana National Olympic Committee, senior vice president, Tshepo Sitale said the athletes were part of the Botswana Long-Term Athlete Development (BLTAD). 

  Speaking at the team’s welcome ceremony on Wednesday,  he said at the junior level, there were no target medals, adding that they only wanted them to do their best. 

  “When they break those records and win the medals, it is a bonus because they are still at a developmental stage,” he said. 

   Sitale said now that they had competed at the World Athletics Junior Championships, they were looking forward to competing at Commonwealth Youth Games and Youth Olympic Games. 

He said at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the same crop of athletes would be 24 years, and they expected them to make their first appearance at that level, where they would get to taste that stage. 

Furthermore, he said it was only in 2032 where they would be now expecting them to win medals, adding that it took two quadrennials for athletes to make a podium finish. 

Debswana executive head of corporate affairs, Rachel Mothibatsela told the athletes that representing their country was a great achievement that they should all be proud of. 

“I must acknowledge that it is no easy feat to shoulder the hopes of an entire nation, especially in the wake of the groundbreaking and historic achievements we recently witnessed at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. I am proud of the effort you put in. Your hard work does not go unnoticed,” she said. 

Mothibatsela said after each competition there were winners and learners, adding that although they did not win at the Under 20 Championships, they should use this as a learning opportunity. 

“Your exposure to an international competition such as this where you had many countries from across the world competing should be your greatest takeaway. 

We all learn from this and will come back stronger. 

One learning does not define us; it is infact how one utilises the learning that they evolve into a champion. 

So, I encourage you to remain determined as you regroup and refocus. You will bounce back and reach our goal,” she said. 

She said the Botswana Athletics Association and the coaching team would go through athletes’ performance and identify areas of improvement and come up with a plan.

 “We don’t waste this learning by feeling sorry for ourselves. Instead, we will closely examine it and work towards improvement,” she said. 

Mothibatsela said they will continue to partner with other stakeholders to ensure that they support sport development in the country. ENDS