Letsile Tebogo has been riding the high wave of success since the Paris Olympics 2024. Tebogo went on to win Gold in the 200m and a silver in the 4x400m relay. He won the Gold clocking 19.46 seconds. And he did so by leaving the legendary Noah Lyles (19.70) and America’s beloved Kenny Bednarek (19.62) trailing behind. So what’s next for Tebogo?

The 2024 Diamond League is about to kick off, and all eyes are on Letsile Tebogo. But as the world eagerly anticipates his next electrifying sprint, there’s a sense that this upcoming race will be unlike any other he’s run before. Recently, Tebogo faced a gut-wrenching loss that has added a whole new layer of intensity to his preparation. This isn’t just another race for the Botswanan star—it’s personal. What happened, you ask?

Nothing can stop Letsile Tebogo

With the Diamond League right around the corner, Tebogo is preparing unlike ever before. The 21-year-old sprinter lost his mother Seratiwa to breast cancer. After a long battle, she recently passed, leading to a big question about Tebogo’s future. Tebogo considered quitting altogether, admitting, “When she died of breast cancer after a long battle, I thought of quitting sport.” Tebogo went on to add,  “For my sister, who’s 12, and me, [my mother] was and is everything. Sport and my mother’s infinite love allowed me to realize everything in life, even up to Olympic gold.”  But that’s not all!

The Diamond League is also marked by another personal event for Tebogo. He fulfilled his childhood dream of meeting the Pope. “It feels amazing to meet the Pope because it is something that I have dreamed of as a child. The dream came true, I was truly honored to be there and get the signature,” he said talking about the same. This is more than a starstruck moment for Tebogo. It comes following a period of grief and adding another layer of significance is his mom being a believer. “I am sure that my mother is happy, she was a woman of faith,” he added.

Tebogo’s focus is set despite all odds. He is channeling the weight of his loss into the track. “I carry her with every breath and every step. And now and then I give a kiss up to the sky for her,” he added. Tebogo’s journey has been anything but easy, but he continues to sprint to honor his mother’s memory and dreams. But his journey ahead is also far from easy. He will be having a rematch with Kenny and will also face 100m Olympic Bronze medalist Fred Kerley in Zurich.

A man with a mission

Wondering how Letsile Tebogo keeps going? Beyond the poignant moments, Tebogo is a man with a bigger mission than himself. As he himself once put it, “I want to be remembered as one of the best athletes who ever lived.” And it is safe to say, he is definitely on the right track to being the greatest. Tebogo has a history of blazing his way through world records and championships.

Letsile Tebogo’s journey through the 2023 World Championships was nothing short of historic. Winning silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m, Tebogo didn’t just earn medals—he shattered expectations and made history as the first African athlete to medal in the men’s 100m at the World Championships. But these accolades are just the tip of the iceberg for this rising star. At the U20 World Championships in 2022, he broke the 100m record three times, solidifying his status as a future legend. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he set the world best in the 300m in Berlin in January 2024.

Tebogo’s ascent shows no signs of slowing down. His string of successes is not just a personal victory; it’s a testament to Africa’s rising prominence on the global athletics stage. As Tebogo boldly declared, “I’m just an African boy on a mission to take Africa to the world.” Each of his wins carries the weight of his homeland, his family, and his dreams. His story is not just one of individual triumph but of collective pride and inspiration.

As he prepares to step back onto the track, the world watches in anticipation. Tebogo himself once said, “Champions rarely talk. They just perform, and the world around them talks.” With his actions speaking louder than any words, the stage is set for Tebogo to dazzle once again. The world is ready to see what this remarkable athlete will achieve next!