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| caption = Tebogo at the [[2023 World Athletics Championships]]
| caption = Tebogo at the [[2023 World Athletics Championships]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|6|7}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|6|7}}
| birth_place = [[Kanye, Botswana]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/letsile-tebogo_1936983 |title=TEBOGO Letsile {{!}} Paris 2024 |website=olympics.com |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805221814/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/letsile-tebogo_1936983 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Kanye, Botswana]]<ref name="Paris 2024 TEBOGO">{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/letsile-tebogo_1936983 |title=TEBOGO Letsile |work=[[Paris 2024 Olympics]] |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805221814/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/letsile-tebogo_1936983 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| employer =
| employer =
| height = 1.84 m<ref name="Paris 2024 TEBOGO"/>
| height = 1.84 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/letsile-tebogo_1936983 |title=TEBOGO Letsile {{!}} Paris 2024 |website=olympics.com |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805221814/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/letsile-tebogo_1936983 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| weight = 77 kg<ref name="Tilastopaja.eu">{{cite web |url=https://www.tilastopaja.info/db/at.php?Sex=1&ID=343821 |title=Tilastopaja Oy Track and field statistics {{!}} Letsile Tebogo |website=Tilastopaja.eu |access-date=24 June 2024 |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328061705/https://www.tilastopaja.info/db/at.php?Sex=1&ID=343821 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| weight = 77 kg<ref name="Tilastopaja.eu">{{cite web |url=https://www.tilastopaja.info/db/at.php?Sex=1&ID=343821 |title=Tilastopaja Oy Track and field statistics &#124; Letsile Tebogo |website=Tilastopaja.eu |access-date=24 June 2024 |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328061705/https://www.tilastopaja.info/db/at.php?Sex=1&ID=343821 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| country = {{BOT}}
| country = {{BOT}}
| nationality =
| nationality = Botswana
| sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| event = [[Sprint (running)|Sprints]]
| event = [[Sprint (running)|Sprints]]
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}}
}}


'''Letsile Tebogo''' ({{IPA|tn|lɪt͡silɛ tɛbʊχo}}<!-- the g sound in Tswana is not the same as h -->; born 7 June 2003)<ref name="WAprofile">{{cite web |title=Letsile TEBOGO – Athlete Profile |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897 |website=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418081510/https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897 |url-status=live }}</ref> is a [[Motswana]] [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]]. <!--The adjective of "Botswana" is "Motswana." It is not a typo.--> He won the gold medal at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200&nbsp;metres]] event, with his win earning the [[Botswana at the Olympics|first-ever]] Olympic gold medal for Botswana. He also won the silver medal at the [[2023 World Athletics Championships|2023 World Championships]] in the [[2023 World Athletics Championships – Men's 100 metres|100&nbsp;m]] and followed it up with a bronze medal in the [[2023 World Athletics Championships - Men's 200 metres|200&nbsp;m]] five days later.<ref name="Grdn">{{cite news |title=USA's Noah Lyles wins 100m world title as Hughes seals bronze for GB |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/20/usas-noah-lyles-wins-100m-world-title-as-hughes-seals-bronze-for-gb |access-date=20 August 2023 |agency=The Associated Press |work=The Guardian |date=20 August 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820193856/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/20/usas-noah-lyles-wins-100m-world-title-as-hughes-seals-bronze-for-gb |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''Letsile Tebogo''' ({{IPA|tn|lɪt͡silɛ tɛbʊχo}}<!-- the g sound in Tswana is not the same as h -->; born 7 June 2003)<ref name="WAprofile">{{cite web |title=Letsile TEBOGO – Athlete Profile |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897 |website=[[World Athletics]] |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418081510/https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897 |url-status=live }}</ref> is a sprinter from [[Botswana]].<!--The adjective of "Botswana" is "Motswana." It is not a typo.--> He won the gold medal at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200&nbsp;metres]] event, with his win earning the [[Botswana at the Olympics|first-ever]] Olympic gold medal for Botswana. He also won the silver medal at the [[2023 World Athletics Championships|2023 World Championships]] in the [[2023 World Athletics Championships – Men's 100 metres|100&nbsp;m]] and followed it up with a bronze medal in the [[2023 World Athletics Championships - Men's 200 metres|200&nbsp;m]] five days later.<ref name="Grdn">{{cite news |title=USA's Noah Lyles wins 100m world title as Hughes seals bronze for GB |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/20/usas-noah-lyles-wins-100m-world-title-as-hughes-seals-bronze-for-gb |access-date=20 August 2023 |agency=The Associated Press |work=The Guardian |date=20 August 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820193856/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/20/usas-noah-lyles-wins-100m-world-title-as-hughes-seals-bronze-for-gb |url-status=live }}</ref>


Tebogo won in the [[100 metres]] and placed second in the [[200 metres]] at both the [[2021 World Athletics U20 Championships|2021]] and [[2022 World Athletics U20 Championships|2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships]]. In 2021, he became the first Botswana athlete to claim the 100m title at any World Championships level. He is the 200m [[2022 African Championships in Athletics|2022 African champion]], becoming the youngest winner of this title in competition history. He broke the [[300 metres|300m]] world best, running a time of 30.69 seconds on February 17, 2024 at altitude in Pretoria, South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tebogo breaks world 300m best with 30.69 in Pretoria {{!}} REPORT {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/letsile-tebogo-world-300m-best-pretoria |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=worldathletics.org |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220013920/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/letsile-tebogo-world-300m-best-pretoria |url-status=live }}</ref>
Tebogo won in the [[100 metres]] and placed second in the [[200 metres]] at both the [[2021 World Athletics U20 Championships|2021]] and [[2022 World Athletics U20 Championships|2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships]]. In 2021, he became the first Botswana athlete to claim the 100m title at any World Championships level. He is the 200m [[2022 African Championships in Athletics|2022 African champion]], becoming the youngest winner of this title in competition history. He broke the [[300 metres|300m]] world best, running a time of 30.69 seconds on February 17, 2024 at altitude in Pretoria, South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tebogo breaks world 300m best with 30.69 in Pretoria &#124; REPORT &#124; World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/letsile-tebogo-world-300m-best-pretoria |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=worldathletics.org |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220013920/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/letsile-tebogo-world-300m-best-pretoria |url-status=live }}</ref>


Tebogo has held the [[List of world under-20 records in athletics|world U20]] record in the 100m since April 2022. He was the first man from Botswana to break the [[10-second barrier]].
Tebogo has held the [[List of world under-20 records in athletics|world U20]] record in the 100m since April 2022. He was the first man from Botswana to break the [[10-second barrier]].
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Letsile Tebogo gained his first international experience at the age of 17 at the [[2021 World Athletics Relays]] held in May in [[Chorzów]], Poland.<ref name="WAprofile" /> In August, he competed at the [[2021 World Athletics U20 Championships|World Under-20 Championships]] in [[Nairobi]], Kenya, winning the [[100 metres]] and finishing second in the [[200 metres]].<ref name="WAprofile" />
Letsile Tebogo gained his first international experience at the age of 17 at the [[2021 World Athletics Relays]] held in May in [[Chorzów]], Poland.<ref name="WAprofile" /> In August, he competed at the [[2021 World Athletics U20 Championships|World Under-20 Championships]] in [[Nairobi]], Kenya, winning the [[100 metres]] and finishing second in the [[200 metres]].<ref name="WAprofile" />


On 19 February 2022, the 18-year-old set a new national record in the 100m at the Botswana Athletics Championships with a time of 10.08 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kolantsho|first=Calistus|date=2022-02-21|title=Letsile sets new 100m record|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/sports/letsile-sets-new-100m-record/news|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Mmegi Online|language=en|archive-date=12 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512023929/https://www.mmegi.bw/sports/letsile-sets-new-100m-record/news|url-status=live}}</ref> Two months later, he became the first man from Botswana to break the [[10-second barrier]] at the event as he clocked a time of 9.96 seconds at the Gaborone International Meet, setting a new world under-20 record.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 April 2022|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/world-u20-records-knighton-19-49-tebogo-9-96|title=World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|access-date=30 April 2022|archive-date=1 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501054944/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/world-u20-records-knighton-19-49-tebogo-9-96|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 July, he further improved his record in his debut race at the [[2022 World Athletics Championships|World Athletics Championships]] held in [[Eugene, Oregon]], with a time of 9.94 seconds. The following month, he broke his own record again, clocking a [[2022 World Athletics U20 Championships – Men's 100 metres|9.91 second performance]] in the final of the [[2022 World Athletics U20 Championships|World U20 Championships]] in [[Cali]], Colombia.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2022|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-u20-championships/cali22/news/report/wu20-cali-22-day-two-afternoon-tebogo|title=Tebogo runs 9.91 world U20 record to claim 100m crown in Cali|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813033144/https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-u20-championships/cali22/news/report/wu20-cali-22-day-two-afternoon-tebogo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Spotlight on Rising Stars: Kerrica Hill and Letsile Tebogo |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/awards/news/spotlight-rising-stars-kerrica-hill-letsile-tebogo |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=[[World Athletics]] |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110095054/https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/spotlight-rising-stars-kerrica-hill-letsile-tebogo |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the race he celebrated early, drawing comparisons to 100m and 200m world records holder [[Usain Bolt]].<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2022|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tebogo-draws-bolt-comparisons-after-showboating-junior-record-2022-08-03/|title=Tebogo draws Bolt comparisons after showboating to junior record|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=3 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803053109/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tebogo-draws-bolt-comparisons-after-showboating-junior-record-2022-08-03/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 19 February 2022, the 18-year-old set a new national record in the 100m at the Botswana Athletics Championships with a time of 10.08 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kolantsho|first=Calistus|date=21 February 2022|title=Letsile sets new 100m record|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/sports/letsile-sets-new-100m-record/news|access-date=23 February 2022|website=Mmegi Online|language=en|archive-date=12 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512023929/https://www.mmegi.bw/sports/letsile-sets-new-100m-record/news|url-status=live}}</ref> Two months later, he became the first man from Botswana to break the [[10-second barrier]] at the event as he clocked a time of 9.96 seconds at the Gaborone International Meet, setting a new world under-20 record.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 April 2022|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/world-u20-records-knighton-19-49-tebogo-9-96|title=World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|access-date=30 April 2022|archive-date=1 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501054944/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/world-u20-records-knighton-19-49-tebogo-9-96|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 July, he further improved his record in his debut race at the [[2022 World Athletics Championships|World Athletics Championships]] held in [[Eugene, Oregon]], with a time of 9.94 seconds. The following month, he broke his own record again, clocking a [[2022 World Athletics U20 Championships – Men's 100 metres|9.91 second performance]] in the final of the [[2022 World Athletics U20 Championships|World U20 Championships]] in [[Cali]], Colombia.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2022|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-u20-championships/cali22/news/report/wu20-cali-22-day-two-afternoon-tebogo|title=Tebogo runs 9.91 world U20 record to claim 100m crown in Cali|publisher=[[World Athletics]]|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813033144/https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-u20-championships/cali22/news/report/wu20-cali-22-day-two-afternoon-tebogo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Spotlight on Rising Stars: Kerrica Hill and Letsile Tebogo |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/awards/news/spotlight-rising-stars-kerrica-hill-letsile-tebogo |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=[[World Athletics]] |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110095054/https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/spotlight-rising-stars-kerrica-hill-letsile-tebogo |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the race he celebrated early, drawing comparisons to 100m and 200m world records holder [[Usain Bolt]].<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2022|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tebogo-draws-bolt-comparisons-after-showboating-junior-record-2022-08-03/|title=Tebogo draws Bolt comparisons after showboating to junior record|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=3 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803053109/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tebogo-draws-bolt-comparisons-after-showboating-junior-record-2022-08-03/|url-status=live}}</ref>


On 8 August 2024, Tebogo won the 200m final at the [[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|Paris Olympics]], earning the first-ever gold medal for Botswana with a time of 19.46s.<ref name="WAprofile" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/cp81x1k1yjno|title=Tebogo wins stunning 200m as Covid-hit Lyles denied|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=14 August 2024}}</ref> His victory led to a holiday being declared in Botswana to celebrate his feat on the afternoon of 9 August.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2024|url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-botswana-tebogo-168aca162724619b2a1718eeb882696e/|title=Botswana's people get the afternoon off work to celebrate a first gold at the Olympics |publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> The government of Botswana also awarded him two houses in recognition of his victory.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 August 2024 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240813-flags-and-dancing-as-botswana-welcomes-home-olympic-gold-1 |title=Flags and dancing as Botswana welcomes home Olympic gold |publisher=[[France 24]] |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref>
On 8 August 2024, Tebogo won the 200m final at the [[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|Paris Olympics]], earning the first-ever gold medal for Botswana with a time of 19.46s.<ref name="WAprofile" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/cp81x1k1yjno|title=Tebogo wins stunning 200m as Covid-hit Lyles denied|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=14 August 2024}}</ref> His victory led to a holiday being declared in Botswana to celebrate his feat on the afternoon of 9 August.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2024|url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-botswana-tebogo-168aca162724619b2a1718eeb882696e/|title=Botswana's people get the afternoon off work to celebrate a first gold at the Olympics |publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> The [[government of Botswana]] also awarded him two houses in recognition of his victory.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 August 2024 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240813-flags-and-dancing-as-botswana-welcomes-home-olympic-gold-1 |title=Flags and dancing as Botswana welcomes home Olympic gold |publisher=[[France 24]] |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref>

In September 2024, Tebogo became the first male winner of the newly inaugurated [[Jesse Owens]] Rising Star Award at the [[2024 Memorial Van Damme|Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussel]]. The 21-year-old's 19.80 was the best performance of the final by a male athlete aged 23 or under, even though he did not win the final.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jesse Owens Rising Star Award: Letsile Tebogo |url=https://www.diamondleague.com/news/general/jesse-owens-rising-star-award-letsile-tebogo/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=IDL Diamond League |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2024, for his historic achievement as an Olympic champion for Botswana, Tebogo received the [[Association of National Olympic Committees]] (ANOC) award for best male athlete of Paris 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 Oct 2024 |title=Julien Alfred and Letsile Tebogo lead Association of National Olympic Committees 2024 awards |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/julien-alfred-letsile-tebogo-anoc-awards-winners-complete-listympic-committees-2024-awards |work=Olympics.com}}</ref>

In December 2024, Tebogo was named World Athletics [[World Athletics Awards#Athlete of the Year winners|Male Athlete of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/hassan-tebogo-world-athletics-awards-2024|title=Hassan and Tebogo named World Athletes of the Year|website=World Athletics|date=1 December 2024|access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref> At the same event, Tebogo was named the Male Track Athlete of the Year winner ahead of Norway's 5000m gold medallist [[Jakob Ingebrigtsen]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/letsile-tebogo-botswana-sprinter-wins-male-athlete-of-the-year-after-impressive-olympics-performance/ar-AA1v4Xp6 |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref>


==Achievements==
==Achievements==
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* [[Diamond League]]
* [[Diamond League]]
:* [[2023 Diamond League|2023]]: [[Athletissima|Lausanne Athletissima]] (200 m)
:* [[2023 Diamond League|2023]]: [[Athletissima|Lausanne Athletissima]] (200 m)
:* [[2024 Diamond League|2024]]: [[Athletissima|Lausanne Athletissima]] (200 m)
:* [[2024 Diamond League|2024]]: [[Herculis|Monaco Herculis]] (200 m), [[Athletissima|Lausanne Athletissima]] (200 m), [[Kamila Skolimowska Memorial]] (200 m), [[Golden Gala|Rome Golden Gala]] (100 m), [[Weltklasse Zürich|Zürich Weltklasse]] (200 m)
* [[World Athletics Continental Tour]]
:* [[2024 Diamond League|2024]]: [[Kamila Skolimowska Memorial]] (200 m)
:* [[2023 World Athletics Continental Tour|2023]]: [[Botswana Golden Grand Prix]] (200 m)

:* [[2024 World Athletics Continental Tour|2024]]: Grand Prix Lombardia Brescia (200 m)


As of August 2024, Tebogo holds four track records for 200 metres including Chorzów, Poland (19.83, August 2024), Gaborone, Botswana (19.87, April 2023), Nairobi, Kenya (19.71, April 2024, a record he shares with [[Courtney Lindsey]]) and Paris (Stade de France, 19.46, August 2024).


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{sports links}}
* {{sports links}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
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{{Footer African Champions men's 200 metres}}
{{Footer African Champions men's 200 metres}}
{{Footer World Junior Champions men's 100 metres}}
{{Footer World Junior Champions men's 100 metres}}
{{IAAF World Athlete of the Year (men)}}


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}
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[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Botswana]]

Latest revision as of 18:05, 3 December 2024

Letsile Tebogo
Tebogo at the 2023 World Athletics Championships
Personal information
NicknameSchool-boy
NationalityBotswana
Born (2003-06-07) 7 June 2003 (age 21)
Kanye, Botswana[1]
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight77 kg (170 lb)[2]
Sport
Country Botswana
SportAthletics
EventSprints
TeamNike
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Botswana
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 200 m
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris 4×400 m relay
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2023 Budapest 100 m
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Budapest 200 m
World Relays
Gold medal – first place 2024 Nassau 4×400 m relay
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Saint Pierre 200 m
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Nairobi 100 m
Gold medal – first place 2022 Cali 100 m
Silver medal – second place 2021 Nairobi 200 m
Silver medal – second place 2022 Cali 200 m

Letsile Tebogo (Tswana pronunciation: [lɪt͡silɛ tɛbʊχo]; born 7 June 2003)[3] is a sprinter from Botswana. He won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 200 metres event, with his win earning the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Botswana. He also won the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in the 100 m and followed it up with a bronze medal in the 200 m five days later.[4]

Tebogo won in the 100 metres and placed second in the 200 metres at both the 2021 and 2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships. In 2021, he became the first Botswana athlete to claim the 100m title at any World Championships level. He is the 200m 2022 African champion, becoming the youngest winner of this title in competition history. He broke the 300m world best, running a time of 30.69 seconds on February 17, 2024 at altitude in Pretoria, South Africa.[5]

Tebogo has held the world U20 record in the 100m since April 2022. He was the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier.

Career

[edit]

Letsile Tebogo gained his first international experience at the age of 17 at the 2021 World Athletics Relays held in May in Chorzów, Poland.[3] In August, he competed at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, winning the 100 metres and finishing second in the 200 metres.[3]

On 19 February 2022, the 18-year-old set a new national record in the 100m at the Botswana Athletics Championships with a time of 10.08 seconds.[6] Two months later, he became the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier at the event as he clocked a time of 9.96 seconds at the Gaborone International Meet, setting a new world under-20 record.[7] On 15 July, he further improved his record in his debut race at the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, with a time of 9.94 seconds. The following month, he broke his own record again, clocking a 9.91 second performance in the final of the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.[8][9] At the end of the race he celebrated early, drawing comparisons to 100m and 200m world records holder Usain Bolt.[10]

On 8 August 2024, Tebogo won the 200m final at the Paris Olympics, earning the first-ever gold medal for Botswana with a time of 19.46s.[3][11] His victory led to a holiday being declared in Botswana to celebrate his feat on the afternoon of 9 August.[12] The government of Botswana also awarded him two houses in recognition of his victory.[13]

In September 2024, Tebogo became the first male winner of the newly inaugurated Jesse Owens Rising Star Award at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussel. The 21-year-old's 19.80 was the best performance of the final by a male athlete aged 23 or under, even though he did not win the final.[14]

In October 2024, for his historic achievement as an Olympic champion for Botswana, Tebogo received the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) award for best male athlete of Paris 2024.[15]

In December 2024, Tebogo was named World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year.[16] At the same event, Tebogo was named the Male Track Athlete of the Year winner ahead of Norway's 5000m gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen.[17]

Achievements

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Personal bests

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Distance Time (s) Wind Location Date Notes
100 meters 9.86 +1.0 m/s Paris, France August 4, 2024 NR
200 meters 19.46 Paris, France August 8, 2024 NR, AR
300 meters 30.69 Pretoria, South Africa February 17, 2024 WB
400 meters 44.29 Pretoria, South Africa March 18, 2024
Youth and junior achievements
100 meters 9.91 +0.8 m/s Cali, Colombia August 2, 2022 World under-20 record
200 meters 19.96 -1.0 m/s Cali, Colombia August 4, 2022 AU20R

International competitions

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Representing  Botswana
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Notes
2021 World Relays Chorzów, Poland 13th (h) 4 × 100 m relay 39.55 SB
World U20 Championships Nairobi, Kenya 1st 100 m 10.19
2nd 200 m 20.38
2022 African Championships Saint Pierre, Mauritius 1st 200 m 20.26
– (f) 4 × 100 m relay DQ
World Championships Eugene, OR, United States 16th (sf) 100 m 10.17 (h: WU20R NR [note 1])
World U20 Championships Cali, Colombia 1st 100 m 9.91 CR WU20R NR
2nd 200 m 19.96 CR
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 2nd 100 m 9.88 NR
3rd 200 m 19.81
2024 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 1st 4 × 400 m relay 2:59.11
Olympic Games Paris, France 6th 100 m 9.86 NR
1st 200 m 19.46 AR
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 2:54.53 AR

Circuit wins and titles

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In the heats Tebogo set a world under-20 and national record with a time of 9.94 seconds.

References

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  1. ^ a b "TEBOGO Letsile". Paris 2024 Olympics. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Tilastopaja Oy Track and field statistics | Letsile Tebogo". Tilastopaja.eu. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Letsile TEBOGO – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  4. ^ "USA's Noah Lyles wins 100m world title as Hughes seals bronze for GB". The Guardian. The Associated Press. 20 August 2023. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Tebogo breaks world 300m best with 30.69 in Pretoria | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ Kolantsho, Calistus (21 February 2022). "Letsile sets new 100m record". Mmegi Online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  7. ^ "World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96". World Athletics. 30 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Tebogo runs 9.91 world U20 record to claim 100m crown in Cali". World Athletics. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Spotlight on Rising Stars: Kerrica Hill and Letsile Tebogo". World Athletics. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Tebogo draws Bolt comparisons after showboating to junior record". Reuters. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Tebogo wins stunning 200m as Covid-hit Lyles denied". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Botswana's people get the afternoon off work to celebrate a first gold at the Olympics". Associated Press. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Flags and dancing as Botswana welcomes home Olympic gold". France 24. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Jesse Owens Rising Star Award: Letsile Tebogo". IDL Diamond League. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Julien Alfred and Letsile Tebogo lead Association of National Olympic Committees 2024 awards". Olympics.com. 30 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Hassan and Tebogo named World Athletes of the Year". World Athletics. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  17. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
[edit]
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flag bearer for  Botswana
Paris 2024
with
Maxine Egner 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Records
Preceded by Men's under-20 world record holder
100 meters
30 April 2022 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by World best performances, 300 metres
17 February 2024 – present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Letsile_Tebogo&oldid=1260992628"