August 08, (THEWILL) –Letsile Tebogo, the rising star from Botswana, made history on Thursday by becoming the first African to win the Olympic 200 metres title. The 19-year-old produced a dominant performance, clocking a time of 19.46 seconds to claim Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal.
Tebogo, who had won bronze at the World Championships last year and set a national record of 9.86 seconds in the 100m final in Paris, powered clear of the American duo of Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles to secure the coveted title. Bednarek took the silver medal with a time of 19.62 seconds, while Lyles, who was hoping to become the first American to complete the sprint double since Carl Lewis 40 years ago, had to settle for bronze in 19.67 seconds.
The race was not without its drama, as U.S. officials revealed that Lyles had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the final. A yellow card was also displayed against his name in the official results, further adding to the intrigue of the event.
Tebogo’s victory is a significant moment for African athletics, as the continent has traditionally struggled to make its mark in the sprinting events at the highest level. The young Botswanan’s triumph will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of athletes across Africa and beyond.
With his impressive performance, Tebogo has cemented his place among the elite sprinters in the world, becoming the fifth-fastest man in history over the 200m distance. His dominant display, which comes two months after his mother’s death, is a testament to his dedication, hard work and the growing talent pool in Botswana’s athletics programme.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
