Letsile Tebogo is the first African man to have ever won 200 meters in the Olympic track games. The sprinter made an astounding performance in an American athlete-dominated race that granted him a chance to bag the first gold medal for his country, Botswana, and a landmark outcome for the rest of Africa.
Botswana President, Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has granted citizens an afternoon off to celebrate the stellar performance delivered by the country’s sprinter, Letsile Tebogo. The celebration is slated for Friday afternoon, as announced in a press release by the Office of the President.
The president said that they considered such a decision and acknowledged the athlete for being the first African to win a gold medal in a 200-meter race at the Olympics competition.
“The decision has been duly made to recognise and honor Letsile Tebogo as the Motswan and the first African to win a Gold Medal for 200m in the history of the Olympics,” the press release read.
He emphasized the need for the nation to organize a unique celebration for the greatest achievement in the history of the country.
“Furthermore, the President underscores, recognises, and acknowledges Letsile’s performance and achievement as markedly outstanding and deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him in a most unique, appropriate, and responsible manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic,” the press release read.
Letsile Tebogo appears to be the real definition of “pride comes before fall,” as his win took the expectant winner Noah Lyles by surprise. Noah Lyles, who won the 100-meter final by a touchdown, made a 15-second, hyped, and flamboyant grand entrance into the track before the final hit.
The 21-year-old athlete who had to have lost his mother a couple of months ago appeared humble and, in a bold posture, touched the finishing lane in 19.46 seconds, flanking the American sprinter who finished 3rd with a time of 19.70 seconds.
Noah Lyles also got a dusty defeat from his American counterpart, who made an offshoot stride within 19.62 seconds. Letsile Tebogo’s win is the first gold medal in the history of the Republic of Botswana.
When asked whether he’d consider being the next face of athletics in the 200-meter race in an interview, Letsile made a sarcastic response before Noah Lyles, whom he referred to as an arrogant and loud person.
“I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah,” Lyles said.
