25 Jul 2024

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games start today, expectations are high for Botswana to do well and surpass its feat at the previous Olympics.

In London 2012 Olympics, Botswana won a silver medal in 800m courtesy of Nijel Amos and 4x400m relay men’s team won bronze in Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The onus therefore is upon 14 athletes in Paris to do what may seem impossible. The country is represented in track and field and swimming.

Sunday Standard sport editor, Botlhale Koothopile said Botswana’s prospects in medal haul was in athletics.

“One is tempted to say Botswana has potential to bring home a medal or two,” he said.  He said he had a strong feeling that Letsile Tebogo would win a medal in 200m, though he is also strong in both 400m and 100m.  

Koothophile said Tebogo had both the stamina and the sprint. 

‘In my opinion, he is Noah Lyles greatest threat in the event and he may spring a surprise and bring gold. 

As for 100m, what we saw at the recent London Diamond League shows that Tebogo may have an ace up his sleeve,” he said. 

He said unlike in previous races, Tebogo was one of the quickest off the blocks and that alone would mean he may have corrected his start off the blocks, which was always believed to be his weakness. “He could even afford to slow down and check his shoulder and smile as he approached the finish line. That for me shows an athlete who is confident in his abilities. 

With the likes of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in the line up, 100m is hard to predict, but Tebogo will be there in the mix and a medal can’t be ruled out,” he said. 

On 400 metres, he said athletes’ prospects in individual pursuits were not so great, adding that the only athlete who stood a chance was Bayapo Ndori

“But even he will be limited as we now have many athletes in the world running sub 44. Of the current crop of Botswana athletes, only Ndori comes closer. Also, our athletes’ times have not been consistent enough. 

Collectively, however, we have a chance in the 4x400m relay and I believe only the USA stands between us and the elusive gold medal,” he said.   He further said swimmers would be up against powerhouses in the likes of USA, Australia, China, France and a number of European countries. In Africa, he said local swimmers had been struggling to win gold medals against swimmers from South Africa and other North African countries 

“This opportunity will give our swimmers a taste of what it takes to compete at the highest level.  Their experience will surely shape the future of Botswana swimming,” he said. 

He said there was a possibility that the relay team could cause an upset, provided the technical team had prepared well. This is where coaches’ dilemma come from. Do they sacrifice few athletes in individual 400m to ensure they have fresh legs to compete in the relay?  Given the depth in quality from countries like the USA, and Jamaica, it may be good to only let Ndori run the individual race while others focus on relay, he said.

Koothopile said that would enhance the country’s chances of not just making it to the podium but to challeng the US for gold. 

“It all depends on the coaches,” he said. ENDS