Usain Bolt's heartwarming surprise to Letsile Tebogo after World Athletics award
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 04.12.24. | 15:03
During the award ceremony, Tebogo took a memorable video call from the legendary Jamaican sprinter, who congratulated him on his achievement
After being crowned the Men’s World Athlete of the Year by World Athletics, Botswana’s sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo received a heartwarming surprise from the world's fastest man Usain Bolt.
During the award ceremony, Tebogo took a memorable video call from the legendary Jamaican sprinter, who congratulated him on his achievement.
Tebogo later shared the moment with his fans, posting a picture on Instagram of their call with the caption: “I got a call from a special person. Thanks,” tagging Bolt.
Tebogo’s recognition as World Athlete of the Year was well-deserved. The 21-year-old made history at the Stade de France, becoming the first African Olympic champion in the 200m with a blistering time of 19.46 seconds.
His gold medal not only marked Botswana’s first-ever Olympic triumph but also cemented his place among the sport’s elite.
The achievement was part of an extraordinary season where Tebogo competed in the 200m nine times, outpacing heavyweights like Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek.
He also played a pivotal role in Botswana’s victory in the 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Relays, showcasing his versatility and team spirit.
Upon receiving the World Athlete of the Year award, Tebogo humbly expressed his gratitude, saying, “This means a lot. It’s not just about the team that is around you; there are a lot of fans out there that want us to win something great for the continent.”
He went on to note that the recognition came as a surprise to him:
“It was a real surprise to hear my name because I did not expect this,” he offered.
While Tebogo’s achievements have been groundbreaking, comparisons with Usain Bolt remind us of the monumental task ahead. Bolt’s world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m remain untouchable.
Tebogo’s personal bests of 9.86 seconds (100m) and 19.46 seconds (200m) are remarkable but still fall short of Bolt’s iconic times.
Nevertheless, Tebogo is steadily closing the gap. His journey began with setting a national record of 10.08 seconds in the 100m at the 2022 Botswana Athletics Championships, and he became the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier, clocking 9.96 seconds in the same year.
Looking ahead, Tebogo is set to make more history at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in September.
True to his philosophy of “letting the legs do the talking,” he remains focused on his craft while navigating the challenges of newfound fame.
In an interview with Olympics.com, he shared, “I prefer being silent and just let the legs do the talking. I’ve always been a reserved person, so athletics won’t change the person I am.”
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