Letsile Tebogo Returns to Heroic Welcome in Botswana After Olympics Success

Letsile Tebogo received a heroic welcome on his return to Botswana after a successful outing at the just-concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

The 21-year-old became the first person to win a gold medal in Olympic history after finishing first in the 200-metre race, ahead of Kenneth Bednarek, who clinched the silver medal, and Noah Lyles, who won the bronze medal.

The Motswana finished the race in an African record time of 19.46 seconds and dedicated the medal to his late mother, Seratiwa, who died earlier this year.

Tebogo returns home to heroic welcome

According to the Making of Champions on X, Tebogo returned to Botswana on Tuesday and was welcomed by a full-capacity National stadium in Gaborone.

PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!

The sprinter won two medals at the biggest sporting event in Paris: gold in the 200-metre race and silver in the 4×400-metre relay race.

Tebogo and the other athletes were paraded around the biggest stadium in Botswana, waving to fans in the stands.

The whole stadium was filled with excitement as children and adults waved Botswana’s sky blue and black national flag to celebrate their heroes at the Olympics in France.

Botswana President declares another public holiday

President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared another half-day public holiday, as he did on Friday (August 9), to celebrate Tebogo and other athletes’ successes.

Lyles sends message to Tebogo after beating him in 200m final

Briefly News earlier reported that Noah Lyles sent a congratulatory message to Tebogo after losing to him in the 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The 100m Olympic champion acknowledged the Botswana athlete had a rough year after his mother passed on but went on to win.

Letsile Tebogo competes in the Men’s 4 x 400m Relay Final on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. Photo: Bradley Kanaris.
Source: Getty Images

Tebogo leads Botswana to silver in 4x400m relay

According to Making of Champions, Team Botswana came close to winning the gold medal, with Tebogo making a move in the final leg, but the United States of America’s Rai Benjamin held firm to lead his nation to victory in a new Olympic Record of 2:54.43s.

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!

Botswana broke the African record to finish second in 2:54.53 seconds, while Great Britain got the Bronze.

Team South Africa finished fifth in 4x400m relay

Team South Africa also competed in the 4x400m relay finals but failed to clinch a medal, finishing fifth.

The quartet of Gardeo Isaacs, Zakhiti Nene, Antonie Nortje and Lythe Pillay finished the race in a national record of 2:58.12 seconds.

They failed to replicate Akani Simbine and the 4x100m relay team that clinched the silver medal in the finals on Friday, August 9, 2024.

Tebogo: President declares public holiday in Botswana

Briefly News earlier reported that Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has declared a ‘half-day public holiday’ across the country to celebrate Letsile Tebogo after winning the gold medal in the 200m race.

The 21-year-old broke the African record after finishing first in 19.46s, ahead of American athlete Kenneth Bednarek and event’s favourite Noah Lyles.