Botswana’s President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi has announced a public holiday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo’s remarkable achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 21-year-old sprinter made history by defeating the pre-race favorite, Noah Lyles, to win the Olympic 200m title with a record-breaking African time of 19.46 seconds. American athletes Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively, with times of 19.62 seconds and 19.70 seconds.
Tebogo’s victory marks the first time an African athlete has won the Olympic 200m title and secured a gold medal for Botswana, solidifying his status as the greatest African sprinter in this event’s history.
In honour of his historic feat, the Botswanan President made a press release announcing a free afternoon day in the country.
“His Excellency, Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, hereby declares to the nation, that he has found it a fitting tribute to Mr. Letsile Tebogo, ‘Botswana’s Sensation’, to grant Batswana and residents an afternoon day-off, on this very day, Friday the 9th August, 2024,” the statement read.
“The decision has been duly made to recognise and honour Letsile Tebogo as the first Motswana and first African to win a Gold Medal for 200m in the history of the Olympics.
“Furthermore, the President underscores, recognises and acknowledges Letsile’s performance and achievement as markedly outstanding, and deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him in a most unique, appropriate and responsible manner, that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic.”
Tebogo is now the first African sprinter in history to win a 100m medal (silver) at the world championships (accomplished this in Budapest last year) and an Olympic gold medal in any sprint event.
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