The 21-year-old Bostwanan Letsile Tebogo stunned in the men’s 200m race at the Paris 2024 Olympics, as he won the historic gold medal for his country with an African record.
Letsile Tebogo completed the men’s 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics in 19.46 seconds. It was the new African record, as he beat his own record of 19.50 seconds.
Letsile Tebogo became the first African to win the men's 200m Olympic race
It was the first Summer Olympics gold medal for Botswana. Meanwhile, Tebogo became the first African to win the men’s 200m at any Summer Olympics.
Before this gold medal, Botswana recorded one silver medal (Nijel Amos in men’s 800m at London 2012) and one bronze medal (men's 4 × 400 metres relay at Tokyo 2020) in the history of the Summer Olympics.
In this historic moment, Tebogo dedicated his success to his mother. He said, according to Olympics.com, "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."
No difference between Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 silver and bronze medallists
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver and bronze medallists retained their respective places at the Paris 2024 Olympics. American racers Kenneth Bednarek (19.62 seconds) and Noah Lyles (19.70 seconds) claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively, at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The men’s 100m gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Noah Lyles, later needed a wheelchair. After the race, it was revealed that Lyles was COVID-positive.
The defending champion, Canadian Andre De Grasse, was eliminated from the semifinal round.
