Who is Letsile Tebogo, the Botswana sprinter on Ferdinand Omanyala’s case?

• The global athletics stage is full of surprises with new talents such as Letsile Tebogo
• He is a double world sprint medalist who won the ASA Grand Prix III in South Africa
• Tebogo shines as a source of inspiration for both aspiring and seasoned athletes

The global athletics stage is full of surprises with new talents such as Letsile Tebogo stealing the show when you least expect it. He is a double world sprint medalist who won the ASA Grand Prix III in South Africa with such ease that he is currently the fastest man in three different races so far in 2024.

Tebogo shines as a source of inspiration for both aspiring and seasoned athletes due to impressive accomplishments and determination to win. However, who is the man dwarfing Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala’s record as the fastest man in Africa?

WHERE IS LETSILE TEBOGO FROM?

Letsile Tebogo is from the Kanye, a town in Botswana. In addition to being his birthplace, this thriving town in the southwest of the country is unquestionably responsible for developing his athletic prowess. Track and field in particular has a long tradition in Botswana, and Tebogo’s early love of running may have been influenced by Kanye.

Tebogo’s skill has catapulted him onto the international scene, but his hometown provides a window into his heritage. On the global track circuit, he proudly wears the national colours of Botswana and serves as an inspiration to upcoming generations of athletes back in Kanye.

Letsile Tebogo. Photo/X

LETSILE TEBOGO AGE?

Letsile Tebogo is 20 years old. Despite his young age, he is one of the big names in Botswana due to his athletic prowess. Tebogo specializes in the 100m and 400m sprints.  He also holds a world record in the 300m sprint.

LETSILE TEBOGO 100M TIME

Tebogo has a remarkable personal best time of 9.88 seconds for the 100m sprint. He clocked this personal best in the race at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary last year. While he won a silver medal in the competition, he set a new national record for Botswana in the 100 meters.

He topped the junior circuit in the World Athletics U20 Championships, where his adventure got underway. He made history in 2021 as the first athlete from Botswana to win a gold medal in the 100 meters at any World Championship level. As a bonus, he also took home a silver in the 200 meters.

At the 2022 U20 Championships, he successfully defended his 100-meter title and added another silver in the 200-meter event, further solidifying his supremacy in the youth division.

Tebogo’s aptitude was not overlooked. He made an easy transition to senior competitions, debuting in the World Championships in 2023. He made history at the Budapest event when he won the silver medal in the elite 100-meter final, setting a n a national record for Botswana with a time of 9.88 seconds. Along with his reliable qualifying times and strong performances in a range of events, this podium finish has established him as a strong competitor in the senior class.

Tebogo’s goals, nevertheless, go beyond conventional sprint lengths. He shocked the athletics community in February 2024 by breaking the previous record in the infrequently held 300-meter race. He set a new record at the Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out in Pretoria, South Africa, by finishing in an incredible 30.69 seconds, beating Wayde van Niekerk’s previous mark, which had stood since 2017.

Letsile Tebogo. Photo/BBC

Tebogo recorded a new personal best time in the 400 meters on March 25. In the Pretoria ASA Grand Prix, he finished the race in 44.29 seconds. The 20-year-old sprinter was able to cut seconds off his previous personal best time of 44.75 after this run.

With a time of 45.93, Anthony Pesela, the Under-20 world champion, came in second to break the 300-meter world record. Tumo Statago Van Wyk crossed the finish line in 46.05. This earned him third place.

WHAT INSPIRES LETSILE TEMBOGO?

The 20-year-old shared that he is now successful because he is no longer in his comfort zone. He stated that good things always come when one steps out of their comfort zone.

“Great things never come from comfort zone,” he posted on X shortly after winning the 400m sprint in South Africa. In a surprising confession, he said he only wanted to ‘see how his speed was’ and ended up winning. His focus now shifts to the Diamond League and the Paris Olympics in June.