Tebogo talks to Al Jazeera about breaking the American and Jamaican dominance, and the way forward for sprinting in Africa.
Doha, Qatar – Loud cheers greeted Letsile Tebogo when he stepped onto the monitor for the boys’s 200-metre race on the World Athletics Doha Diamond League in Qatar and stepped away a winner a couple of minutes later.
The Botswanan Olympic gold medallist made his Doha debut with a time of 20.10 seconds on a balmy Friday night, coolly glancing sideways at his closest competitor as he crossed the end line 0.01s forward of Courtney Lindsey of the USA (US).
It was a leisurely run in contrast along with his triumphant 19.46s end on the Stade de France 9 months in the past, when he left a star-studded American lineup – together with 100m gold medal winner Noah Lyles – in his wake as he introduced Botswana its first Olympic gold.
As a younger boy, Tebogo was a eager footballer with a desire for manning the left wing, however was pushed in direction of athletics by his academics.
Seven years later, the reluctant sprinter made the world sit up and take discover as he turned the primary African to win a 200m gold on the Olympics.
A day previous to the Doha Diamond League, the World Athletics 2024 Athlete of the Yr sat down with Al Jazeera to mirror on his achievement in Paris and its the impression on the African continent:
Al Jazeera: How has life modified for you since successful the Olympic gold?
Letsile Tebogo: In so some ways.
To start with, there’s elevated consciousness of the size of my achievement, which has introduced alongside industrial curiosity.
I now have a number of alternatives to assist myself as a number of manufacturers wish to be related to my identify.
What I’m most enthusiastic about, although, is the impression I’ve made on aspiring athletes.
I’ve proved that by staying heading in the right direction and dealing arduous, it’s attainable to realize your desires irrespective of which a part of the world you’re from.
Wherever you might be, no matter you might have, simply ensure you put in sufficient effort and dedication.
Al Jazeera: How tough is it so that you can step out of your own home whenever you’re in Botswana?
Tebogo: I’m by no means out until it’s for an occasion. I keep locked up indoors as a result of I don’t wish to be on the market an excessive amount of.
I like having a component of thriller and wish to depart folks questioning: the place is he, what’s he doing?
Al Jazeera: How does it really feel to interrupt the American and Jamaican maintain on sprinting medals on the Olympics?
Tebogo: That’s all the time been my aim. To snap their dominance. It was unhappy to see solely two nations rule the game for many years.
I needed to make a breakthrough for African athletes. I aspired to be the one to make it occur after which take on the planet’s response. And that response has been heartwarming.
Al Jazeera: Compared with the success in distance working, Africa has not been capable of bag as many medals in sprinting. What challenges do African athletes face in the case of sprinting on the highest stage?
Tebogo: It’s largely all the way down to infrastructure and assist however I’m not completely positive. Nevertheless, I can see that Africa is wanting in direction of investing in its athletes past distance working.
As soon as the governments are on board, it makes a large distinction to the game.
Al Jazeera: Are you able to see the impression of your success for Batswana athletes?
Tebogo: It’s nonetheless early days however I’ve undoubtedly seen athletes shed a layer of self-doubt. They’re not afraid of coming ahead to showcase their expertise.
I hope the brand new [Botswana] authorities will take the following step and assist these athletes.
Al Jazeera: How do you see the way forward for sprinting in Africa?
Tebogo: Africans are stepping up and we see an elevated variety of African athletes in international competitions.
I dream of an all-African lineup on the Olympics at some point.
