Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo has expressed his reservations about comparisons between today’s sprinters and the legendary Jamaican Usain Bolt, arguing that the current generation has yet to reach Bolt’s level.
Tebogo, who is seen as a promising talent potentially capable of achieving or even surpassing Bolt’s record-breaking career, feels that such comparisons are premature.
Despite his impressive achievements, including an Olympic gold in the 200 meters in Paris and an unbeaten streak since, Tebogo is cautious about engaging in discussions that align him with Bolt’s storied legacy.
The 21-year-old sprinter acknowledges that while he and other emerging talents are drawing attention, they still have a significant journey ahead before they can be fairly compared to Bolt.
“People will always have their own opinion about how you look at one particular person so I believe we are at an era where there is a new generation coming up where now you have to have [have comparisons] Letsile Tebogo you look like,” Tebogo remarked on Thursday ahead of the Diamond League final in Brussels. He further added, “I believe that era we have passed but we didn’t surpass his [Bolt] goals and what he did in track and field.”
Tebogo’s current form is impressive, with a perfect record in the Diamond League this season. He has secured victories in the 200 meters at Lausanne, Silesia, and Zurich, as well as a dominant performance in the 100 meters in Rome.
Despite these successes, Tebogo recognizes that his accomplishments, including one Olympic gold and medals from the World Championships, fall short of Bolt’s extraordinary achievements.
Bolt, who boasts an unparalleled record of 11 world championship titles and holds the world records for both the 100 meters and 200 meters, remains a towering figure in athletics.
Tebogo’s achievements, while noteworthy, are not yet at the level of Bolt’s historic career. For Tebogo, the focus remains on continuing to build his career and achieve further milestones, rather than getting caught up in comparisons with the sprinting legend.
