Letsile Tebogo

Letsile Tebogo (born 7 June 2003)[2] is a Botswana sprinter. He won the gold medal in the 100 metres and a silver in the 200 metres at both the 2021 and 2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships. In 2021, Tebogo became the first Botswana athlete to claim the 100 m title at any World Championships level. He is the 200 m 2022 African champion, becoming the youngest winner of this title in competition history.

Letsile Tebogo
Personal information
Nickname(s)School-boy
Born (2003-06-07) 7 June 2003
Kanye, Botswana[1]
EmployerNike
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
CountryBotswana
SportAthletics
Event(s)Sprints
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Botswana
African Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Saint Pierre200 m
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Nairobi100 m
Gold medal – first place2022 Cali100 m
Silver medal – second place2021 Nairobi200 m
Silver medal – second place2022 Cali200 m

Tebogo holds current world U20 and Botswana national record in the 100 m. He was the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier at the event.

Career

Letsile Tebogo gained his first international experience at the age of 17 at the 2021 World Athletics Relays held in May in Chorzów, Poland.[2] In August, he competed at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, winning the 100 metres and finishing second in the 200 metres.[2]

On 19 February 2022, the 18-year-old set a new national record in the 100 m at the Botswana Athletics Championships with a time of 10.08 seconds.[3] 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.[4] 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, Tebogo broke his own record again, clocking a 9.91 second performance in the final of the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.[5][6] At the end of the race he celebrated early, drawing comparisons to 100 m and 200 m world records holder Usain Bolt.[7]

Achievements

Personal bests

International competitions
Representing  Botswana
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTimeNotes
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

See also

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

References
  1. "Sponsorship offers pour in for Botswana's World Athletics U-20 Heroes". businessweekly.co.bw. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  2. "Letsile TEBOGO – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  3. Kolantsho, Calistus (21 February 2022). "Letsile sets new 100m record". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  4. "World U20 sprint records fall as Knighton runs 19.49 and Tebogo clocks 9.96". World Athletics. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  5. "Tebogo runs 9.91 world U20 record to claim 100m crown in Cali". World Athletics. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  6. "Spotlight on Rising Stars: Kerrica Hill and Letsile Tebogo". World Athletics. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  7. "Tebogo draws Bolt comparisons after showboating to junior record". Reuters. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
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