Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo made history by winning a gold medal in the men’s 200-meter race at the Olympics. The emotional sprinter dedicated his victory to his late mother, Elizabeth Seratiwa, who passed away last May. Tebogo displayed a touching tribute to his mother by marking his racing spikes with her birth date and painting her initials on his fingernails.
This historic win not only secured Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold but also made Tebogo the first African in history to claim victory in the Olympic 200-meter sprint. Tebogo expressed the significance of his win for the African continent, emphasizing that it showcases Africa as a sprinting powerhouse.
As an International Olympic Committee scholarship holder at Paris 2024, Tebogo’s triumph highlights the impact of such programs in nurturing athletic talent. Despite the overshadowing news of American sprinter Noah Lyles testing positive for Covid-19 after finishing third in the race, Lyles graciously congratulated Tebogo on his remarkable achievement.
The heartwarming story of Letsile Tebogo’s gold medal win not only honors his late mother but also symbolizes a momentous milestone for Botswana and the entire African continent in the realm of sprinting.
