BRUSSELS, Belgium — Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo, is set to cap off his breakthrough season with a win at the Diamond League finals in Brussels this Saturday. The 21-year-old sprinter has been on an extraordinary trajectory, having bounced back from personal tragedy to solidify his place as one of the world’s top athletes.
Tebogo, who lost his mother in May, delivered a stunning performance at the Paris Olympic Games, capturing gold in the 200m and breaking the African record with a time of 19.46 seconds. His victory over favorites like Noah Lyles made him the first African to win the Olympic 200m, and his record-breaking time placed him fifth on the all-time list.
His remarkable season includes a silver in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, further establishing his presence on the global stage.
Since his Olympic triumph, Tebogo has continued to dominate, winning the 200m at Diamond League events in Lausanne, Silesia, Rome, and Zurich, where he clocked 19.55 seconds despite challenging weather conditions. Heading into the Brussels finals, he is poised to add another title to his growing list of achievements.
During a pre-finals press conference, Tebogo downplayed individual comparisons, emphasizing that the sport is entering a new era. “I believe there’s a new generation coming up,” he said. “We’ve passed that [Usain Bolt] era, but we haven’t yet surpassed his goals in track and field.”
Tebogo also hinted that Yohan Blake’s 2011 Brussels stadium record of 19.26 seconds might be within reach but stressed he wasn’t putting unnecessary pressure on himself. “If it comes, then it comes,” he said, adding that he feels “more energized than anything else” as the season draws to a close.
The 200m final in Brussels will be a highly anticipated showdown, featuring Tebogo alongside Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh and top American sprinters Kenny Bednarek, Erriyon Knighton, and Fred Kerley. “It’s two Africans against the rest of the world,” Tebogo remarked, confident it will be a thrilling race.
Tebogo’s return to Botswana after his Olympic victory was met with widespread celebration, including a half-day public holiday declared by President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Reflecting on the moment, Tebogo said, “It was a proud moment seeing the thousands of people waiting for me at the stadium. It was amazing for me.”
Looking ahead, Tebogo has his sights set on future challenges. While the 200m remains his favorite event, he acknowledged that a move to the 400m is on the horizon, with plans to focus on it after the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. “I have to get the job done in the 100m and then move up to the 400,” he said.
With a strong end to the season in sight, Tebogo is eager to build on his success and continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the track.
