Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo encountered significant challenges at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing sixth in the 100m final due to a pivotal 21-day disruption.
Tebogo’s Olympic campaign was marred by a crucial 21-day setback that influenced his performance in the historic 100m race, a detail not widely recognized outside his inner circle.
In an interview, Tebogo’s coach, Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane, revealed how the unforeseen three-week loss played a crucial role in shaping the final outcome.
“For you to get the 100m medal, everything should be perfect, and it takes a lot of work,” Mosimanyane explained as per Daily News.
The time lost was crucial; it was when the team was supposed to integrate vital components of their training, which ultimately left the 100m out of reach.
“Once we knew that we could not achieve our objective, we targeted 200m,” said Mosimanyane.
Despite the challenge, Tebogo won the 200m gold and played a pivotal role in the 4x400m relay, winning silver.
The absence was linked to a personal tragedy—Tebogo’s mother passed away in May, a loss that not only took an emotional toll but also affected his training schedule.
“The time we lost 21 days due to a situation that was beyond our control was the time we knew that 100m was now out of reach,” Mosimanyane reiterated.
Despite Tebogo’s sixth-place finish, which may seem underwhelming, his coach defended his achievements. Tebogo previously secured a gold medal in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m at the 2021 World Athletics Championships in Kenya, as well as notable victories at the World Junior Championships in Cali.
Mosimanyane highlighted Tebogo’s performance, noting that his World Junior Record in the 100m remains unbroken, emphasizing his continued prominence in the event.
The 100m final at the Paris Olympics was historic, being the closest since the Moscow 1980 Games. Noah Lyles triumphed with a national record of 9.96 seconds, reaching a top speed of 27.1 mph at the 65.15-meter mark.
Even under challenging conditions, Tebogo set a new national record, demonstrating his elite status. Looking ahead, Mosimanyane affirmed that Tebogo will persist in competing in both the 100m and 200m, and will also be prepared to join the 400m relay team if necessary. This strategy leverages Tebogo’s strengths and resilience, which have been tested recently.
