Sprinter Letsile Tebogo made history for Botswana and Africa when he was crowned Olympic 200-
meter champion in Paris in a moving story that is about much more than just gold medals.
Tebogo raced to victory 19.46, ahead of a pair of Americans in Kenny Bednarek (19.62) and Noah
Lyles (19.70), securing a first-ever gold medal for Botswana at the Olympics, and a first African win in
the men’s 200m.
Lyles, the favorite who had earlier won the 100m crown, announced directly after the race that he had Covid-19 which had affected his performance, stealing the media limelight to a degree and opening a
debate over whether he should have raced now for two days that he was ill, not only for his safety but
of those around him.
Not that the quiet Tebogo would have minded the spotlight being off him as he reflects in a personal
manner on his triumph, which comes just months after the death of his mother Seratiwa following a
battle with cancer.
She had been a driving force behind his career and it was clear as the 21-year-old pointed to the
heavens after finishing the crossing line that he was dedicating this victory to her memory.
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“It’s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field,” Tebogo said. “To take
her (with me), it gives me a lot of motivation. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy.”
Lyles had been anointed as the heir apparent to the great Usain Bolt but had his 26-race winning
streak in the 200m ended by Tebogo in the semifinals. Asked whether he was now the face of men’s
athletics, the Botswanan said he would leave that to Lyles.
“I think, for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like
Noah,” he said. “I believe Noah is the face of athletics.”
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