Letsile Tebogo has clinched gold in the 200m final, outpacing the favorite, American sprinter Noah Lyles. This victory not only marks a significant achievement for Tebogo but also makes him the first African to win Olympic gold in the 200m event.
Tebogo, who is just 21 years old, finished the race with a time of 19.46 seconds, setting a new African record. His performance was a remarkable feat, especially as he defeated Lyles, who was heavily favored to win.
Lyles, who had already secured the title of the world’s fastest man with a narrow victory in the 100m final, had to settle for bronze in the 200m with a time of 19.70 seconds. American Kenneth Bednarek took second place, finishing the race in 19.62 seconds.
In an emotional moment after his victory, Tebogo dedicated his gold medal to his late mother, Seratiwa, who passed away in May following a brief illness.
He displayed his spikes to the camera, showing the date of her birth, and shared that her memory motivated him throughout the race.
Tebogo said, “It’s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field. To take her [with me], it gives me a lot of motivation. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy.”
