02 Dec 2024

It is not every day that the 100m and 200m world record holder congratulates another athlete after doing well. 

But on Sunday, Botswana sprint sensation and 200m Olympic Champion Letsile Tebogo received a video call from Jamaican Usain Bolt congratulating him after winning two unprecedented prestigious World Athletics awards. ‘School Boy’ as he is popularly known, the World Athlete of the Year, and Track Athlete of the Year awards on Sunday in Monaco, making him the first Motswana ever to achieve that feat. 

Dressed by Token Jupiter Designs, with blue, black and white blazer, Tebogo walked majestically to the stage as he received a standing ovation to receive the awards. 

His coach Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane said in an interview that the World Athletics Awards mean a lot. 

“It means that we are doing something right and if we continue to work hard and stay focused and consistent, we can achieve a lot more,” he said. 

Mosimanyane said it also puts a spotlight on Botswana once again and gives hope to young Batswana and Africans, that anything is possible. 

The Botswana Athletics Association vice president, Oabona Theetso, said the award means a lot to the athlete given that he was still young. 

“We also need to appreciate that it was not a smooth season  given that he lost his mother at the beginning of the season, but he remained strong for his mother, Batswana and Africa,” he said.

 Tebogo, he said was a team player of note, who never misses to appreciate Africa, adding that this therefore means the awards were not only for Batswana but also for Africans. 

“I am glad that he was awarded one of the awards by Athletics Kenya president Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jack Tuwei, who is also one of the World Athletics vice presidents. That was the icing on the cake,” he said. 

Theetso said he was aware that next year during the World Athletics Championships, all eyes would be on Tebogo, adding that he was confident that he would absorb the pressure and do his best. Ends