Turning heads in the track and field world had become the norm for Letsile Tebogo. But the one thing he cherished was having his mother, Seratiwa, cheer him on from the stands. Unfortunately, his mother passed away after a brief period of illness on May 19. It’s never easy losing your mother. Even though the Olympian’s calm demeanor doesn’t show it, he consistently deals with the dark clouds looming over his head. In fact, he almost gave it all away after his heartbreaking loss.

Still reeling from the hurt, the sprinter shared a black-and-white image of the two. However, his heartfelt note will crush your heart. “The day I lost you, I also lost me,” he stated. The Olympian wasn’t with his mother when she passed. He was in Italy preparing for the Eugene Diamond League. Before he found out about her demise, the news had already made it on the internet, taking a massive toll on the 21-year-old.

Letsile Tebogo continued, “I’ve been trying to find myself again, but it’s hard. It’s hard because you were a huge part of my life.” Seratiwa was a former athlete herself. When the Botswanan showed an interest in track, she helped nurture his talent early on. Their shared passion for the sport led to an unbreakable bond. “Not having you here is so painful. I’m just not me anymore.” Even though his mother accompanied him at most competitions, her missing presence in the Stade de France stands was a massive hit for him.

But the sprinter found another way to have his mother by his side. Amid a stacked lineup during the 200m finals on August 8, he only had eyes for the coveted Olympic gold. With the prodigy’s African record time of 19.46 seconds, he was now the Olympic Champion. After his historic win, he removed his shoe and held it to the camera. In a heartwarming tribute to the most important woman in his life, the shoe bore “23-12-1980″—his mother’s birth date.

Even though he claimed his maiden Olympic gold in the French capital, he almost didn’t make it to the Summer Games. During the post-event press conference, Letsile Tebogo opened up about where his mind was as soon as he found out. “When I first heard the news, I thought my career was over. I started to find ways of forgetting about athletics.” The loss shattered his confidence, but he pushed through to the finals and has now etched his name in the history books, all fuelled by his mother’s support.

Letsile Tebogo’s mother’s unyielding support helped him rise up the ranks

Seratiwa would often accompany the prodigy to several local races. But unbeknownst to him, she watched him from the stands at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. She watched the sprinter become the first African to win a World Championship silver in 200m. But she couldn’t watch him clinch Botswana’s first-ever gold medal in the French capital. However, at the press conference, the sprinter was asked how proud she would be of him.

Without missing a beat, Letsile Tebogo stated, “I believe she could be one of the happiest people on the planet because she believed in me, and I had so much doubt for myself.” His mother had always been a pillar of strength for her son. While he still feels lost without Seratiwa, there’s one thing that helps him move forward. “If you don’t see the results tomorrow, don’t give up; just keep on pushing; you’ll get it one day.” On August 8, the Botswanan reaped what he sowed, and he continues to impress the track and field world with each stride.