Letsile Tebogo: Botswana’s Sprinting Phenom
Letsile Tebogo (born 7 June 2003) is a Botswana sprinter who has rapidly ascended the ranks in the world of athletics. Tebogo clinched the silver medal in the 100 meters at the 2023 World Championships and followed it up with a bronze medal in the 200 meters five days later.
Tebogo made a mark at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, winning the 100 meters and securing second place in the 200 meters in both 2021 and 2022. In 2021, he became the first athlete from Botswana to claim the 100m title at any World Championships level. His success continued as he became the 200m African champion in 2022, the youngest in the competition’s history.
On February 17, 2024, Tebogo set a world best in the 300m, clocking 30.69 seconds at altitude in Pretoria, South Africa. He held the world U20 record in the 100m from April 2022 to July 2023 and was the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier.
Personal Information
- Nickname: School-boy
- Nationality: Botswana
- Born: 7 June 2003 (age 21)
- Birthplace: Kanye, Botswana
- Employer: Nike
- Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
- Weight: 77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
- Country: Botswana
- Sport: Athletics
- Event: Sprints
- Coach: Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanyane
Achievements and Titles
Medal Record
World Championships
- Silver medal – second place, 2023 Budapest, 100 m
- Bronze medal – third place, 2023 Budapest, 200 m
World Relays
- Gold medal – first place, 2024 Nassau, 4×400 m relay
African Championships
- Gold medal – first place, 2022 Saint Pierre, 200 m
World U20 Championships
- Gold medal – first place, 2021 Nairobi, 100 m
- Gold medal – first place, 2022 Cali, 100 m
- Silver medal – second place, 2021 Nairobi, 200 m
- Silver medal – second place, 2022 Cali, 200 m
Personal Bests
| Discipline | Performance | Wind | Venue | Date | Records | Results Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Metres | 9.88 | 0.0 | Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest (HUN) | 20 AUG 2023 | NR | 1248 |
| 150 Metres | 16.47 | +0.2 | Gaborone (BOT) | 31 JAN 2019 | ||
| 200 Metres | 19.50 | +1.6 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 23 JUL 2023 | ARNR | 1300 |
| 300 Metres | 30.69 | Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria (RSA) | 17 FEB 2024 | WBPABP | 1286 | |
| 400 Metres | 44.29 | Bestmed Tuks Stadium, Pretoria (RSA) | 18 MAR 2024 | 1230 | ||
| 4×100 Metres Relay | 39.29 | National Stadium, Gaborone (BOT) | 30 APR 2022 | 1128 | ||
| 4×400 Metres Relay | 2:59.11 | The Bahamas National Stadium, Nassau (BAH) | 05 MAY 2024 | 1211 |
- NR: National Record
- ARNR: Area Record (National Record)
- WBPABP: World Best Performance at Altitude in Pretoria https://globalbuzznetwork.com/paris-2024/
Day 7 – World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 (Image Credits GETTY)
Five Fascinating Facts About Letsile Tebogo, the Rising Star in Athletics
- Early Sporting Beginnings Letsile Tebogo, nicknamed “School-boy,” started his athletic journey alongside football at a young age. Frustrated by frequent benching in football, he opted to focus solely on sprinting, where he excelled from early on. His prowess earned him national recognition early in his career.
- Rapid Progress in Sprinting Tebogo only started taking sprinting seriously around 2019. His breakthrough came with notable performances in the 100m and 200m events, culminating in setting national records and eventually breaking world U20 records.
- Passion for the 200m Despite excelling in both the 100m and 200m, Tebogo’s favorite event is the 200m. He aims to break the sub-20 second barrier and has set his sights on achieving a sprint double at the World U20 Championships.
- History-Making Achievements Tebogo made history as the first Botswana athlete to win a 100m event at a global stage. He also became the second sprinter from his country to break the 10-second barrier, following in the footsteps of Olympic medalist Nijel Amos.
- Inspiration from Usain Bolt Admiring the achievements of Usain Bolt, Tebogo aspires to emulate the legendary sprinter’s success. He aims to leave a lasting mark in the world of athletics, driven by his determination to bring change and glory to his country.
These facts highlight Letsile Tebogo’s remarkable journey from a talented youngster to a world-class sprinter, poised to make his mark on the international stage.