Tebogo and the miracle that rewrote the history of African athletics

Letsile Tebogo is Africa's first Olympic champion in the sprint.

Few athletes are like Letsile Tebogo. At 22, he brought home Botswana's first Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, adding to a glittering career filled with impressive records and achievements.

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Tebogo is not only fast on the track, he is also an inspirational talent. He is seen as a hero, always putting family and community on par with medals.

He demonstrates this through action. When severe floods hit Botswana in early 2025, Tebogo helped rescue stranded drivers, with videos of him driving through floodwaters going viral on social media.

When he has time, this athlete is always actively involved in community activities, supporting children around the world to play sports . The Guardian commented that Tebogo is not only the best sprinter in the world , he is also Botswana's most famous son, with deep attachment to the community.

Growing up in Kanye, Botswana, Tebogo wasn't always destined for greatness. Without sports and running, it's hard to know where life would have taken him. "The neighborhood I grew up in was dangerous. I'm glad sports came along, because a lot of the young people I knew are behind bars now. They were people I used to hang out with," he says.

Fortunately, Tebogo found his way out through football and athletics at a young age. The inspiration of international legend Usain Bolt further helped him focus on sports and stay away from the wrong path.

“When I moved from football to athletics, Usain Bolt was the brightest star,” Tebogo said. “Even though he retired in 2017, in 2019 we knew no one could beat him. I wanted to be like Usain.”

Life-Changing Moments

After choosing sports and avoiding the path of crime, Tebogo began to reap early success. He was selected to represent Botswana at the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Poland at the age of 17.

Tebogo has continued to thrive, winning the 100m and 200m at the 2021 and 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships. Notably, in 2021, he became the first Botswanan athlete to win the 100m at the world championship level.

Tebogo is the pride of Botswana athletics.

The 2024 Paris Olympics were a turning point for Tebogo, who made history with a gold medal in the 200m, becoming a symbol of hope and aspiration for his hometown.

"The gold medal I won at the Paris Olympics means a lot to my country and to Africa," said the 22-year-old. "Africa is now known not only for long-distance races, but also for short sprint events. That was my original goal when I came to athletics."

Tebogo returned from Paris to a stadium packed with fans, much like a football team that had just won the African Cup or the World Cup. Botswana flags flew, children cheered, and Tebogo waved to the excited crowds from the top of a double-decker bus.

Tebogo became a national hero, and his gold medal placed Botswana on the world athletics map. Although he preferred a quiet life on his farm, Tebogo became the center of attention, receiving free houses, cars, even cows and money from his hometown.

From a young boy in Kanye to Africa's first Olympic champion in sprinting, Tebogo not only broke records but also inspired the youth of Botswana and Africa.

His journey from escaping the temptations of the wrong path to becoming a national icon shows that greatness can come from anywhere. With his strong sense of family and community, Tebogo is the pride of Botswana and a beacon of hope for young people who dare to dream big.

Source: https://znews.vn/tebogo-va-ky-tich-viet-lai-lich-su-dien-kinh-chau-phi-post1587951.html