Letsile Tebogo receives a call from 'special person' as he receives the Men's World Athlete of the Year honor

Letsile Tebogo updated his fans about getting a call from the legendary Usain Bolt after receiving the honor of Men's World Athlete of the Year. Tebogo made history by becoming the first sprinter from Botswana to win the Olympic gold.

Tebogo clocked 19.46s and won the 200m dash at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His victory was followed by a holiday declaration in Botswana on August 9 to celebrate the monumental success. Earlier this year, the 21-year-old helped the Botswanian men's 4x400m relay team to the pole podium at the World Athletics Relays.

Following a successful year, Letsile Tebogo and Marathon Olympic champion Sifan Hassan won the World Athletes of the Year honor. Tebogo's celebratory moment was topped with a wish from a special person: the legendary track athlete and world record holder Usain Bolt. In a recent Instagram story, the two-time World medalist shared a snap of him talking to Bolt over a video call.

"I got a call from a special person. Thanks @usainbolt," the caption read.

Letsile Tebogo shares a story of Usain Bolt calling him; Instagram - @tebogo_letsile_

At the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships, Tebogo clocked 9.91s to win the 100m feat and break his world U20 record. Having run at a blistering speed, Tebogo emulated the classic celebratory gesture of Usain Bolt from the 2008 Summer Olympics. The 21-year-old raised his hand and wagged a finger at the second finisher, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie of Jamaica, before touching the finish line. In a post-race conversation, he confirmed that the celebration was in honor of his idol, Usain Bolt.

"If somebody took it as disrespect, I’m really sorry. I saw the fans and (it was so) everybody watching at home can enjoy the race – to remind them a little bit about what Usain Bolt did back in the days. He’s my idol – the person I look up to," he said. (via World Athletics)

Letsile Tebogo clocked the second-fastest time in 100m to finish behind Noah Lyles at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

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Letsile Tebogo once talked about aiming for the 200m world record

Tebogo looking on and smiling at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Chorzow - (Source: Getty)

After winning the 200m race in 19.64s at the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League, the reigning 200m Olympic champion talked about aiming to surpass Bolt's world record time but didn't want to put pressure on himself.

"I don't want to put myself under that pressure of trying to break that world record. If it comes, it will come very surely. You don't have to push it this year, we don't have to push it next year. Probably when we are 24, that's when we can attempt something like that but I don't think it will take long, looking at what I did today and what I did in the 200m final. I don't think it will take that long because I could see it, it’s about 10 meters away from me," he said in a post-race interview in Lausanne.

Letsile Tebogo soared to the 200m victory at the 2022 African Championships and became the youngest title winner in competition history. He was the first Botswanan sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m.