President Mokgweetsi Masisi granted the people of Botswana a half-day off on Friday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo, the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist and the first African to win the 200-meter Olympic title.
Masisi praised the 21-year-old sprinter, calling him “Botswana’s Sensation,” following his remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Also see;Ogun Governor Eliminates ₦10,000 Job Application Fee, Directs Refunds
“Botswana’s finest sporting moment,” declared the MMegoi newspaper after Tebogo’s stunning victory in the 200m, where he secured the gold medal, leaving pre-race favorite Noah Lyles in third place.
To cap off his achievement, Tebogo set a new African record with a time of 19.46 seconds.
The president remarked that Tebogo’s accomplishment will be “etched in the annals of the republic’s history.”
Videos circulating on social media captured students at the University of Botswana celebrating with dancing and singing into the night, while citizens across the southern African nation expressed their pride on platforms like X and Facebook.
“History made!” Masisi exclaimed on his X account. “My voice is completely gone thanks to the phenomenal #LetsileTebogo.”
Masisi also honored Tebogo’s mother, his most devoted supporter, who passed away in May. She had followed her son’s athletic journey closely, even traveling to Budapest last year without his knowledge to witness him become the first male Botswanan athlete to win world championship medals.
Tebogo is the second African athlete to win a medal in the 200m and the first to claim gold. Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks won silver in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996.
Also see;Botswana Declares Public Holiday in Honor of Olympic Gold Medalist Letsile Tebogo
Leave a Reply