Tebogo Wins Historic Olympic Gold for Botswana, Sets New African Record in 200m
Botswana's Letsile Tebogo clinched the men’s 200 meters gold medal at the Paris Olympics, setting a new African record by shaving 0.04 seconds off his previous best to register a time of 19.46 seconds. This historic victory marked the first Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana.
Tebogo has an impressive track record, including a silver in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m at the World Championships in Budapest, along with two world under-20 titles won in Nairobi in 2021 and Cali in 2022. He dedicated his Olympic gold to his late mother, Seratiwa, who passed away last May. As a tribute, his shoe bears her birthdate.
Reflecting on his victory, Tebogo shared, “It was a truly memorable race. Heading into the final, my coach told me his job was done and the rest was up to me—to finish the race healthy, medal or not. I’m glad I could finish stronger than before, carrying the memory of my mother with every stride. She’s watching from above, and I know she’s proud. I chose not to mark the date of her death on my shoe because it’s too emotional.”
In a tight contest, Tebogo held off American Kenny Bednarek, who secured his second consecutive Olympic silver with a time of 19.62 seconds. Noah Lyles, the Olympic 100 meters champion, captured bronze again in 19.70 seconds, ending his long unbeaten streak in the 200 meters that dated back to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Despite testing positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week, as confirmed by USATF, Lyles chose to compete.
Erryion Knighton, a two-time world medalist, finished fourth in 19.99 seconds, mirroring his result from the Tokyo Games. Alexander Ogando and Tapiwanashe Makarawu from Zimbabwe followed, placing sixth and seventh with times of 20.02 and 20.10 seconds, respectively.
FINAL Wind +0.4
| Pos | Athlete | Nat | Mark | Rt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letsile TEBOGO | BOT | 19.46 AR | 0.162 |
| 2 | Kenneth BEDNAREK | USA | 19.62 | 0.163 |
| 3 | Noah LYLES | USA | 19.70 | 0.173 |
| 4 | Erriyon KNIGHTON | USA | 19.99 | 0.157 |
| 5 | Alexander OGANDO | DOM | 20.02 | 0.142 |
| 6 | Tapiwanashe MAKARAWU | ZIM | 20.10 | 0.137 |
| 7 | Joseph FAHNBULLEH | LBR | 20.15 | 0.171 |
| 8 | Makanakaishe CHARAMBA | ZIM | 20.53 | 0.145 |
Lyles Discloses Covid Impact on His Performance
Noah Lyles expressed pride in securing the 200m bronze despite a Covid-19 setback that derailed his attempt to become the first man since Usain Bolt to win both the 100m and 200m at the same Olympics.
The 27-year-old American sprinter had clinched the 100m title by a mere five-thousandths of a second in a historic showdown on Sunday. However, his condition deteriorated significantly by Tuesday, and he tested positive for Covid-19. Just days after his victory, Lyles was seen being assisted off the track in a wheelchair following the 200m final, which was won by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo.
"The illness definitely impacted my performance. I needed several breaks," Lyles revealed, noting that he had kept his diagnosis private from competitors. "I spent nights coughing. Winning the bronze under these circumstances makes me incredibly proud of myself."
