Botswana sprint prodigy – Letsile ‘School-Boy’ Tebogo has said that he’s ready for the challenge ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The silver medallist [in the men’s 100m] at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest ran supreme at the Diamond League in Monaco on Friday to win the men’s 200m in 19.87 seconds, ahead of Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando [20.02], and Orogot Tarsis Gracious [20.32] of Uganda.
As reminiscent of him, Tebogo, the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier in 100m got of from the blocks faster in lane 6, but Ogando quickly emerged as the main threat to Tebogo in the curve as he tried catching him up, but nonetheless couldn’t due to lack of endurance.
Running with ecstacy, and sheer confidence
without showing too much arrogance on the track, the Kanye born sprinter [Tebogo] maintained his composure and virtually jogged passed the finished line while looking across his shoulder to see how far Ogando was behind him.
In his post race interview, the 21-year-old sprinter who holds the record as the fastest man in Africa [19.50 seconds], having broken Frankie Fredericks’ long standing African record in London on July 23, 2023 dedicated the win to his late mother – Seratiwa Tebogo who passed on at Gaborone Private Hospital on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
Tebogo went on to announce his readiness for the awesome challenge that lies ahead in the men’s sprint event at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics in France.
“The race and crowd were really amazing.
“Now we just need to get to the Olympics with a healthy body. The race was perfect, we just shut it down and went to the line.
“I believe I am in the right shape for top performances, it´s good that the Olympics come about.”
Letsile Tebogo will have a busy schedule in France where he’ll compete in three individual events. That is, 100m, 200m, and the 400m.
He will then team up with Bayapo Ndori, Leungo Scotch, and Issac Makwala to compete in the men’s 4x400m relays.
By James K. Attaglo Wilson
