Dj Vnyash
Tens of thousands gathered in a Botswana stadium to welcome sprinter Letsile Tebogo home after he won the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
Excited fans waved the blue-and-black national flag as the Olympic team arrived in the capital, Gaborone, on Tuesday. The athletes paraded through the National Stadium on a rooftop bus, greeting supporters who were enjoying a half-day holiday declared by the president to celebrate Tebogo’s achievement.
At just 21, Tebogo made history by becoming the first African to win the men’s 200m, surpassing Americans Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles in Paris on August 8. He set an African record with a time of 19.46 seconds and also secured a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay, bringing Botswana’s total Olympic medal count to four.
Before the stadium celebration, hundreds of supporters welcomed the Olympic team at Gaborone’s airport. Traditional dancers in animal skins and beads kicked off the festivities as the athletes arrived. President Mokgweetsi Masisi joined in the celebration, showcasing some dance moves on the tarmac while an aide held an umbrella over him for shade.
After the airport reception, the athletes proceeded to the stadium to greet an even larger crowd. Tebogo dedicated his gold medal to his mother, Seratiwa, who passed away in May after a brief illness. He proudly displayed his spikes, showing her date of birth to the camera after his victory.
“It’s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field,” Tebogo shared. “To take her [with me], it gives me a lot of motivation. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy.”
