Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo delivered a stunning performance to win gold in the men’s 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting an African record with a time of 19.46 seconds.
Tebogo, 21, surged ahead of American Kenneth Bednarek, who finished second with a time of 19.62 seconds.
The race was particularly notable as it denied American sprinter Noah Lyles a sprint double. Lyles, who had previously secured the 100m gold by a razor-thin margin, struggled to match the pace of the leaders. He crossed the line in 19.70 seconds, replicating his bronze medal finish from Tokyo 2020.
Following the race, Lyles received medical attention and was seen leaving the track in a wheelchair. US Track and Field later revealed that Lyles had tested positive for COVID-19. Images surfaced showing him wearing a mask before the race, indicating he may have been unwell during the competition.
READ MORE: Noah Lyles eyes historic sprint double at Paris 2024 After 100m triumph
Noah Lyles edges out Kishane Thompson in thrilling 100m photo finish
For Tebogo, the victory held deep personal significance. Competing in his first Olympics, Tebogo dedicated his triumph to his late mother, who passed away in May. He wore her date of birth on his shoes, saying, “It’s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field. It gives me a lot of motivation. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy.”
Tebogo’s win marks a historic achievement for Botswana and adds a poignant and inspirational story to the Tokyo 2024 Olympic Games.
