Botswana erupted in celebration as tens of thousands packed the National Stadium in Gaborone to welcome home sprinter Letsile Tebogo, the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist. Rapturous fans waved Botswana’s blue-and-black national flag as the Olympic team touched down in the capital on Tuesday.
The athletes paraded through the stadium on a rooftop bus, greeted by fans enjoying a half-day holiday declared by President Mokgweetsi Masisi in honor of Tebogo’s historic win.
The 21-year-old made history on August 8th in Paris, becoming the first African to win the men’s 200m, clocking an African record of 19.46 seconds as he stormed past
American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles. Tebogo also secured a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay, raising Botswana’s total Olympic medal count to four.
Before the stadium celebration, hundreds of supporters gathered at Gaborone’s airport to catch the first glimpse of their victorious team.
Traditional dancers, adorned in animal skins and beads, set the festive mood as the athletes emerged. President Masisi himself joined in the celebrations, dancing on the tarmac under the shade of an umbrella held by an aide.
From the airport, the athletes were escorted to the stadium, where a much larger crowd awaited them. Tebogo, who dedicated his gold medal to his late mother Seratiwa, carried her memory with him during his victorious run.
Holding up his spikes inscribed with her date of birth, Tebogo reflected on his win, saying, “It’s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take on the field. To take her [with me], it gives me a lot of motivation. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy.”
