Just two weeks ago, Letsile Tebogo turned the Paris Olympics into his personal highlight reel. After a surprising 6th place in the 100m final, where a 9.86s finish wasn’t enough to snag a podium spot against Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson’s 9.79s, Tebogo didn’t let it rattle him. He bounced back with impressive flair in the 200m final, clocking 19.46s to snatch the gold as Noah Lyles struggled with COVID.

But Tebogo’s antics didn’t end there. Less than 24 hours after his grueling 200m victory, he shocked everyone by jumping into the 4x400m relay. It was a move that nobody saw coming, and it left the track and field world reeling.

Looking back on his whirlwind performance, Tebogo reflected with a grin. When asked about his unexpected relay appearance at the recent Lausanne Diamond, he quipped, “Everybody was shocked that I ran the 4×4 the following day. That’s the only craziest thing I can think of.”

After his spectacular gold medal win in Paris, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo continued to impress at the Lausanne Diamond League, clinching another gold in the 200m. While his winning time of 19.46 seconds in Paris was dazzling, he clocked a slightly slower 19.64 seconds in Lausanne. Despite this, he outpaced America’s Erriyon Knighton, who finished with a season-best 19.78 seconds, and Fred Kerley, who completed the podium with 19.86 seconds. Tebogo’s victory in Lausanne also served as sweet revenge for his two losses at the Paris Olympics.

In the 4x400m relay, Tebogo and his Botswana team—Bayapo Ndori, Busang Kebinatshipi, Anthony Pesela, and Letsile Tebogo—were narrowly beaten by the American team of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, and Kaylyn Brown. The U.S. set an Olympic record of 2:54.43, edging out Botswana’s African record time of 2:54.53. In the men’s 100m final, Tebogo, who had initially finished sixth with 9.86 seconds, saw America’s Noah Lyles take gold with 9.79 seconds, while Kerley took bronze with 9.81 seconds.

Tebogo revealed that after Paris, he took some time off and was, hence, participating in the Diamond League without attending any training sessions in the past eight days. Speaking about why he was so keen to come into the competition, Letsile Tebogo gave an answer that reflected his champion’s mentality.

Letsile Tebogo wants to keep running

Just like any other champion, Letsile Tebogo does not seem to get complacent after a triumph. The Botswana athlete knows that he has to keep running in order to build his legacy and get himself on the same pedestal as the legends of track and field. Echoing his hardworking champion’s mentality, Tebogo said after the Wanda Diamond League, “The most important thing for me is that even after such achievements like the ones I did at the Olympics, at the end of the day, you just have to keep running to maintain the form throughout the season.”

Tebogo’s remarkable work ethic has caught the attention of coaches who are predicting great things for his future. On the topic of breaking Usain Bolt’s records, Bolt’s coach, Glen Mills, has voiced a bold prediction. Mills believes that Letsile Tebogo has a better shot at surpassing Bolt’s world records than Noah Lyles. While Mills acknowledges that Bolt’s 100m record will be a tough nut to crack, he thinks Tebogo’s 200m time is within reach.

Though Tebogo himself remains uncertain about achieving this feat, he is determined to continue his impressive performances. If he does manage to break Bolt’s record, he could solidify his place as one of the greatest sprinters of modern times. Reflecting on his recent victory at the Lausanne Diamond League and the satisfaction of avenging his earlier Olympic losses, what are your thoughts on Tebogo’s future? Share in the comments below!