28 Aug 2024

The world came to a standstill on August 8, when a 21-year-old  young man from Kanye won the first gold medal in 200 metres, not only for Botswana but also for the continent, when he powered to the finish line; stopping the clock in an African Record time of 19.46.

Many know Letsile Tebogo, but they do not know where he started his career, and that he has developed faster than many sport men. 

In January 2021 he ran an impressive time of 22.21 and the same year he ran a time of 20.82, eclipsing both juniors and the seniors in the 200m race. 

His coach, Dose Mosimanyane described him as a hard worker, disciplined and a little too hard working for his age.

BOPA reporter, Anastacia Sibanda caught up with Tebogo’s childhood friend, Temo Kgabanyane, who is also his cousin, to shed light and paint a picture of who Letsile is, away from the track.

BOPA: Hi Temo, how have you been?

Temo: Yeah! I will say we are trying.

BOPA: Oh ok, let’s go straight to the point as to why I called you, Sharp! Sharp! Who is Letsile?

Temo: Ha ha ha ha, Ke Letsile, but on a very serious note Letsile is a simple and humble boy from Kanye, and I won’t be able to fully describe as where he grew up, as some point he stayed in Thankane, Tlokweng, and Mmopane.

BOPA: Then when did he start with his athletics journey.

Temo: Well he started showing signs when he was only three years, that there was something extra ordinary about him.

BOPA: Ok continue.

Temo: Also something that people do not know is that Letsile had extreme knock knees and he was taken to Ramotswa hospital where artificial legs were designed for him to try and re-shape his legs back into normal legs.

BOPA: Are you serious.

Temo: Yes, and when you look at his legs now, you can’t even notice that he once had knock knees because they are a proper athletics legs.

BOPA: Ok let’s now focus on his sport journey.

Temo: Growing up we were beaten to play football in the courtyard. We used to call it ka ha patlelong, and we played together with his other cousins, Botho Mothupi and Motheo Tebogo, and to date Motheo is a very active football player in Kanye.

BOPA: OK

Temo: Yeah and Letsile was a very good player at a very young age, but the turning point was while he was attending school at Kids Academy in Kanye. They had divided their season into ball sport and track. That is when he started excelling in both, and there was a query from other parents as to why he was winning prizes for both football and athletics.

BOPA: Football and Athletics, where and when did he draw the line?

Temo: As we grow in sport, there is sometimes favoritism. Good as he was, some decided to bench him, and he was so stressed, and because he was very active, he was frustrated by seating on the bench.

BOPA: Is that what made him to now focus on athletics?

Temo: I will say yes, because he started to take athletics seriously, and then joined Lefika Athletics Club where he was taught professional running although he was still young.

BOPA: So Lefika was his first and current club?

Temo: Yes, and from Kanye. He then moved to Mophane Primary in Gaborone, and we started supporting his career as a family.

BOPA: By then how was his performance?

Temo: Honestly speaking, he was not that good, he will finish in position six, and on his good day he will claim position four, and I am still wondering where the athletes who used to beat him were.

BOPA: Your guess is as good as mine.

Temo: And I remember the other time, the whole family went to Molepolole to watch him, you can also see that our support on him is from far, and we had placards written Team Letsile, Team Ma-Lets and he did not make it to the podium.

BOPA: So that did not demoralise him?

Temo: Not at all! Something that people do not know is that Letsile is a very strong boy, despite finishing outside podium on several occasions, he never gave up, and he persevered.

BOPA: Now at which stage did he improve?

Temo: We started seeing his improvement while at Gaborone West Junior Secondary School because that is when he started winning silver medals

BOPA: That sounds better.

Temo: Yes, in 2016 he was then called for a national team to compete at the Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa Championships (COSASA) athletics in Namibia as he was part of the Botswana Primary School Sports Association (BOPSSA) team. 

And his 4x100m relay won a silver medal, and he a bronze in the 200m. As a family and friend, we went there to support him, because that time he was still young and we were a little bit worried because it was his first trip outside the country unaccompanied by family members.

BOPA: But did he anticipate that he would become a world beater?

Temo: To be honest, we did now see this coming. We were just supporting him because he loves athletics, little did we know that one day, he would become an Olympic Champion.

BOPA: Olympic Champion with an African Record.

Temo: Ha ha I knew you will say that. While at Gaborone Secondary, and started to fully train with Lefika, we were worried because we expected him to balance his school work, training and household chores.

BOPA: And how did he balance those?

Temo: Letsile is a very humble boy. When you tell him to do something, he will do it without complaining. Humble as he is, when with his age mates he can dance and be merry but without forgetting to respect others, and we are proud of him as a family.

BOPA: I understand he has developed the love for farming.

Temo: Yeah, true! We are from a farming family, we knew every Friday, we will go to the cattle post or Masimo, and even today when not in action, he spends most of his time at the cattle post. I will call him an upcoming farmer for now, and we should not under estimate him as he wants to do modern farming, and I know he will do wonders.

BOPA: Ok continue.

Temo: Yes we are happy he chose farming, becausea sport career may be shortened by injuries or as you grow  old, the urge to compete declines, so it is the best investment he has made so far.

BOPA: Thanks very much Temo.

Temo: Thanks Sister...let’s keep the boy in our prayers so that he finishes every race healthy. Ends