More wins for Letsile Tebogo as he bags prestigious award in Botswana

More wins for Letsile Tebogo as he bags prestigious award in Botswana

Mark Kinyanjui 09:00 - 19.05.2024

Tebogo has bagged a prestigeous award in Botwsana for the second year in a row.

Letsile Tebogo has clinched the Botswana Sports Awards sportsman of the Year award for the second consecutive year, marking another milestone in a stellar career that continues to ascend.

The young sprinter has had an impressive year, highlighted by a series of outstanding performances on the international stage. Tebogo, who recently finished second in the 400m at the LA Grand Prix, has shown remarkable prowess across various sprint events.

In August 2023, Tebogo made a significant impact at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. He secured a silver medal in the 100m, setting a new personal best and national record of 9.88 seconds.

 Just five days later, he added a bronze medal to his collection in the 200m, clocking an impressive 19.81 seconds. Both performances not only demonstrated his speed but also set new benchmarks for Botswanan and African athletics.

In February, Tebogo  smashed the world 300m record following an incredible run at the Simbine Curro Classic in South Africa.

Tebogo ran 30.71, bettering South African Wayde van Niekerk's mark of 30.81 set in Ostrava, Czech Republic in 2017. In so doing, the wunderkid did not just break the seven-year world record but his time was faster than that of American great Michael Johnson, who clocked 30.85 at the same venue in 2000, and Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, who timed 30.97 in 2010.

Continuing his success, Tebogo was instrumental in Botswana's victory at the 2024 World Athletics Relays held in the Bahamas. Competing in the 4x400m relay, his team achieved a gold medal with a time of 2:59.11, showcasing his versatility and endurance in longer sprint events.

At only 20 years old, Tebogo's rapid rise in the international sprinting scene has been nothing short of sensational. His achievements have turned heads and earned him recognition not just within Botswana but across the global athletics community. 

The Setswana phrase "Ke tlago betsa!" (threat of a beating) aptly describes his competitive spirit and the impact he has made on the track.

Tebogo is hoping to go one better this year when he hopes to become the first Botswanan runner to win an Olympics gold during the Paris 2024 Games in France.

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