iShowSpeed edges Olympic champion Tebogo in surprise sprint showdown [VIDEO]
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 07.01.26. | 08:36
The encounter drew a sizable crowd, eager to witness the unlikely matchup between elite athletics and online stardom
Reknowned streamer iShowSpeed lived up to his moniker after emerging victorious in a headline-grabbing sprint against reigning Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo in Gaborone, Botswana.
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After months of boldly claiming he could outsprint some of the world’s fastest athletes, the internet sensation finally got the chance to test himself against the very best, lining up shoulder-to-shoulder with Botswana’s golden boy in a highly anticipated head-to-head race.
The encounter drew a sizable crowd, eager to witness the unlikely matchup between elite athletics and online stardom.
As the starting gun fired, both men burst off the line, but an early slip from Tebogo proved decisive. The stumble allowed iShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins, to capitalise and sprint clear, crossing the line first to the shock and delight of fans in attendance.
An animated Speed immediately celebrated the moment, declaring, “I won that though!” before shaking hands with the Olympic champion.
iShowSpeed racing 🇧🇼Letsile Tebogopic.twitter.com/E7KpzlmP9t
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) January 6, 2026
Never one to shy away from theatrics, the 20-year-old streamer even offered a rematch, asking Tebogo if he wanted to go again. The 22-year-old Olympic champion, however, waved it off with a smile, replying: “No, it’s fine. I’ll let you take the win.”
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The race marked the latest chapter in iShowSpeed’s growing list of high-profile sprint challenges.
In November 2024, he faced his toughest test yet when he went up against American sprint star Noah Lyles in a 50-metre dash, with a reported $100,000 on the line.
Although Speed started strongly, Lyles powered past him to claim victory, later donating the prize money to charity and dismissing calls for a rematch.
Undeterred, Speed continued to seek competitive showdowns. He has since raced and beaten former Liverpool defender and TV pundit Jamie Carragher, and comfortably defeated viral fitness personality and ex-American football running back Ashton Hall four times in a row.
One of his most bizarre challenges even saw him race a real-life cheetah, a stunt that quickly went viral across social media platforms.
The clash with Tebogo, however, represented a return to the highest level of athletics, given the Motswana sprinter’s status as his country’s first-ever Olympic gold medallist.
While the result came under unusual circumstances due to the slip, the spectacle has only fueled further excitement around Speed’s ongoing African tour.
With Botswana now ticked off, the “Speed Does Africa” tour is set to head toward East Africa, where anticipation is already building.
Fans have been relentlessly tagging Kenya’s sprint king, Ferdinand Omanyala, on social media, calling for a potential showdown with Africa’s fastest man and continental record holder.
