Botswana’s rising star Letsile Tebogo has made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and in recognition of his extraordinary achievement, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has declared Friday, 9 August 2024, a public holiday.
Story Summary:
- Letsile Tebogo won Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared Friday, 9 August 2024, a public holiday to honour Tebogo’s achievement.
- Tebogo’s victory was marked by an emotional tribute to his late mother, who passed away in May 2023.
Botswana’s president declares Friday, 9 August 2024 a public holiday
In a move that has delighted the nation, Botswana’s president announced that Friday, 9 August 2024, will be a public holiday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo’s gold medal win in the 200m at the Paris Olympics.
Tebogo’s victory is not only a historic moment for Botswana but also for Africa, as he became the first African to win a gold medal in the 200m at the Olympics.
In a press release issued by the country’s Presidency, Masisi praised Tebogo’s achievement, stating:
“It is a fitting tribute to Mr Letsile Tebogo, ‘Botswana’s Sensation,’ to grant Batswana and residents an afternoon day-off. Letsile’s performance and achievement are markedly outstanding, and deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him in a most unique, appropriate, and responsible manner.”
What we know about Letsile Tebogo
Letsile Tebogo, born on 7 June 2003, has quickly risen to prominence in the world of athletics.
His Olympic victory in the 200m, clocking in at an African record of 19.46 seconds, was a crowning achievement in a career that has been marked by breaking barriers and setting records.
Tebogo first gained international recognition at the age of 17, when he competed in the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Poland.
His talent became more evident at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, where he won gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m.
This was just the beginning of a series of record-breaking performances that would solidify his status as one of Africa’s most promising athletes.
In 2022, Tebogo became the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m, setting a world under-20 record with a time of 9.96 seconds.
He further improved this record at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, with a time of 9.91 seconds, drawing comparisons to sprinting legend Usain Bolt.
Tebogo’s gold medal win at the Paris Olympics is not only significant for its historical value but also deeply personal.
He dedicated the victory to his late mother, Elizabeth Seratiwa, who passed away in May 2023.
In an emotional tribute, Tebogo displayed his mother’s date of birth on his spikes and had her initials painted on his fingernails, saying:
“I believe she could be one of the happiest people on the planet because she believed in me, and I had so much doubt for myself.”
