From a childhood overshadowed by crime to becoming an Olympic champion, Letsile Tebogo credits sport for transforming his life and steering him away from a path that could have ended in prison.
The Botswanan sprinter made history at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, delivering a sensational 19.46-second performance in the 200m final, outpacing Kenny Bednarek (silver) and Noah Lyles (bronze) of the United States. His triumph cemented his status as one of the world’s fastest men.
However, just a decade earlier, Tebogo’s Olympic dream seemed impossible.
A Childhood Surrounded by Crime
Growing up in Kanye, Botswana, Tebogo witnessed crime firsthand. The environment around him made it seem like pickpocketing, ransacking, and criminal activities were the only means of survival.
“Without sport, I [would] probably be a criminal by now,” he admitted to BBC Sport Africa. “In the neighborhood that I was growing up in, there were a lot of criminals. We thought that was the only way to survive.”
Despite the challenges, Tebogo found solace in sport. Initially, he pursued football as a winger but soon realized that his true gift lay in sprinting.
Rapid Rise to Stardom
By 2021, Tebogo had transitioned into full-time athletics, making his international debut at the World Athletics Relays. His meteoric rise continued in 2022, when he:
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Broke the U20 100m world record, clocking 9.91s.
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Set the U20 African 200m record with 19.96s.
These achievements set the stage for his Olympic breakthrough in 2024.
Overcoming Personal Tragedy
Tebogo’s journey to the top was not without hardships. Just two months before the Olympics, he suffered a devastating loss—his mother, Serawita, passed away in May 2024.
Rather than letting grief derail him, Tebogo used it as motivation. “I had to find an inner strength to keep pushing,” he reflected. His resilience paid off as he went on to claim Olympic gold and achieve the fastest 200m time ever by an African sprinter.
His stellar year ended with him being named World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year in December 2024.
Giving Back: A Role Model for the Next Generation
Recognizing the impact sport had on his own life, Tebogo is now dedicated to helping underprivileged children worldwide. He has been named an Ambassador for the Kids Athletics Programme, a global initiative aimed at transforming young lives through sport.
From nearly being consumed by crime to becoming an Olympic champion and global role model, Tebogo’s story is a testament to the power of sport to change lives.
