letsile tebogo paris 2024 olympics
The history-maker. Image: NPR

Home » The internet is OBSESSED with Botswana superstar Letsile Tebogo, and rightly so

The internet is OBSESSED with Botswana superstar Letsile Tebogo, and rightly so

Sprinting excellence.

letsile tebogo paris 2024 olympics
The history-maker. Image: NPR

Letsile Tebogo wrote himself into Botswana folklore with a run for the ages at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The internet is in raptures.


Tebogo makes history at the Paris 2024 Olympics

21-year-old Letsile Tebogo produced the run of his life to claim gold in a much-anticipated 200m event. He was the fastest qualifier and the only man to go under 20 seconds in the semi-finals, so he was certainly expected to medal. However, 100m champion and American superstar Noah Lyles was the overwhelming favourite to claim gold alongside his compatriot Kenny Bednarek. However, Tebogo ripped up the script and stormed to the line first in 19.46 seconds ahead of Bednarek in 19.62 and Lyles in 19.70. Tebogo is the first African man to win this event and it’s also the first gold medal in Botswana’s history at the Olympic Games. Touchingly, Tebogo revealed the birthdate of his late mother on his running shoes in the moments after claiming what must have been a truly emotional victory.


ICYMI, watch Tebogo’s dominant display

In case you’ve been living under a rock and missed this staggering sprinting performance, check it out here. This man is trending all over the internet and rightly so.


Tebogo the history-maker

Letsile Tebogo is the fifth-fastest man over the 200m distance in history. Usain Bolt’s mark of 19.19 still sits at the top of the pile, followed by his fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake with 19.26, Lyles who ran 19.31 in Oregon last year and the legendary Michael Johnson’s 19.32 set in 1996.


Remaining highlights at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Friday 09 August

  • 11:30 – Men’s 800m Semi-Finals
  • 12:05 – Women’s 100m Hurdles Semi-Finals
  • 15:00 – Women’s Diving 3m Springboard Final
  • 15:00 – Spain vs Germany; Women’s Football Bronze Medal Match
  • 18:00 – France vs Spain; Men’s Football Gold Medal Match
  • 19:30 – Women’s 4x100m Relay Final
  • 19:47 – Men’s 4x100m Relay Final
  • 20:00 – Women’s 400m Final
  • 20:00 – Netherlands vs China; Women’s Hockey Gold Medal Match
  • 20:13 – Men’s Triple Jump Final
  • 20:57 – Women’s 10,000m Final
  • 21:00 – Women’s Beach Volleyball Bronze Medal Match
  • 21:45 – Men’s 400m Hurdles Final
  • 22:30 – Women’s Beach Volleyball Gold Medal Match

Saturday 10 August

  • 08:00 – Men’s Marathon
  • 15:00 – Men’s 10m Platform Diving Final
  • 15:35 – Women’s Waterpolo Gold Medal Match
  • 17:00 – Brazil vs USA; Women’s Football Gold Medal Match
  • 19:00 – Men’s High Jump Final
  • 19:05 – Men’s 800m Final
  • 19:30 – Women’s Javelin Throw Final
  • 19:35 – Women’s 100m Hurdles Final
  • 19:50 – Men’s 5000m Final
  • 20:15 – Women’s 1500m Final
  • 21:00 – Men’s 4x400m Relay Final
  • 21:14 – Women’s 4x400m Relay Final
  • 21:30 – Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Game

Sunday 11 August

  • 08:00 – Women’s Marathon
  • 12:45 – Women’s Cycling Track Sprint Finals
  • 13:00 – Women’s Volleyball Gold Medal Match
  • 14:00 – Men’s Waterpolo Gold Medal Match
  • 15:30 – Women’s Basketball Gold Medal Game
  • 21:00 – Closing Ceremony

View the full schedule via the Paris 2024 official website.

paris 2024 olympics
It’ll be sad to see the end of these games. Image: NBC

What has been your highlight of the Paris 2024 Olympics?

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