Botswana erupted in celebration as Letsile Tebogo, the nation’s first Olympic gold medalist, returned home on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old sprinter made history by winning the men’s 200m at the just-concluded 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first African to achieve this feat.
As Tebogo and the Botswana Olympic team touched down in Gaborone, the capital city was awash with sky blue and black national flags. Families, children, and supporters of all ages flocked to the small airport, eager to welcome the country’s new hero.
The excitement was palpable as hundreds of people gathered, buoyed by a half-day public holiday declared by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to honor Tebogo’s incredible achievement.
President Masisi himself was at the forefront of the celebrations. Before greeting the athletes, he was seen dancing on the tarmac, an aide holding an umbrella to shield him from the sun, embodying the joy and pride felt across the nation.
Tebogo’s victory in the 200m, with an African record time of 19.46 seconds, saw him outpace American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles on August 8. This win, along with a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay, brought Botswana’s total Olympic medal count to four.
The celebrations didn’t stop at the airport. Outside, traditional dancers adorned in animal skins and beads set the stage for a grand welcoming ceremony, which later moved to the national stadium. The entire nation was in a festive mood, having already enjoyed a half-day off on August 9 to celebrate Tebogo’s success.
Tebogo is the only second African athlete to secure an Olympic medal in the men’s 200m, following Namibian Frankie Fredericks’ silver in Atlanta in 1996. Botswana’s journey to Olympic glory began at the 2012 London Games when Nijel Amos claimed silver in the 800m. The men’s 4x400m relay team added to the tally with a bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Botswana’s success at the Paris Olympics also contributed to Africa’s overall medal count, which rose to 39, two more than at the Tokyo Games. Kenya led the continent’s medal haul with 11 in the French capital. Tebogo’s triumph marked a significant moment for Africa, as half of the finalists in the men’s 200m were African athletes, signaling the continent’s growing prowess in shorter track events, traditionally dominated by its success in longer distances.
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