The President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has declared today, Friday, August 9, a half-day holiday to celebrate the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, won yesterday by sprinter Letsile Tebogo.
The announcement follows Tebogo’s historic victory in the men’s 200 metres final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a feat that has ignited a wave of national pride and jubilation.
On Thursday Tebogo became the first Motswana, and the first African to win gold in the 200m at the Olympic Games.
His victory was sealed with an African record-breaking time of 19.46 seconds, propelling him to fifth on the world all-time list.
Tebogo held off fierce competition from the United States’ Kenny Bednarek and 100m champion Noah Lyles, marking a new chapter in Botswana’s sporting legacy.
The Office of the President issued an official statement on Friday morning, recognising the significance of Tebogo’s achievement on the global stage.
President Masisi, in the statement, expressed his immense pride and declared an afternoon day-off for all Batswana and residents.
“His Excellency, Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, hereby declares to the nation that he has found it a fitting tribute to Mr. Letsile Tebogo, ‘Botswana’s Sensation,’ to grant Batswana and residents an afternoon day-off, on this very day, Friday the 9th August, 2024,” the statement read.
The President also highlighted Tebogo’s groundbreaking role as the first African to win an Olympic 200m gold medal.
Tebogo’s triumph in Paris adds to his already impressive list of accolades. The 21-year-old sprinter, who finished sixth in the 100m final, has now claimed the first gold medal in Botswana’s Olympic history.
His Olympic success follows a string of achievements, including silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, as well as four medals from the World U20 Championships in 2021 and 2022.
After the victory in yesterday’s race, Tebogo dedicated his Gold medal to his late mother Seratiwa Tebogo, who passed on in May this year after a brief illness.
“It’s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field. She’s watching up there, and she’s the happiest person in the world.” he said.
In his statement, President Masisi also extended his heartfelt gratitude to Tebogo’s late mother, acknowledging her critical role in shaping her son’s athletic journey.
Botswana’s journey in the Summer Olympics began in 1980, and the country has now secured a total of three Olympic medals; one of each colour.
The nation’s inaugural medal came at the 2012 London Olympics, when Nijel Amos won silver in the 800m, and a bronze medal followed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, courtesy of the men’s 4x400m relay team.
Botswana is being represented by a team of 11 athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which conclude on Sunday, August 11, including nine track and field competitors and two swimmers.
