Paris Olympics gold medalist Letsile Tebogo welcomed by a stacked stadium as Botswana announces another nationwide half day holiday

Letsile Tebogo and the Botswana Olympic team received a grand welcome following their historic campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Tebogo won the nation's first Olympic gold medal when he beat the USA's Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek in the 200-meter final.

Following Tebogo’s triumph on August 8, President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared a half-day holiday in Botswana on August 9. He announced another half-day holiday for the nation, as they were set to receive Tebogo and his team following their historic Paris Olympics 2024 campaign.

Tebogo and the team received a grand welcome on their arrival. Scores of people were spotted flocking around the airport while the country’s national stadium was stacked as the team traveled in a mini-parade.

Botswana won its first medal at the 2012 London Olympics when Nijel Amos secured silver in the 800m. The nation’s second Olympic medal came at the 2020 Tokyo Games, when their men's 4x400m relay team took the bronze. The team was led by Letsile Tebogo this year, upgrading their bronze to silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Letsile Tebogo beat the overwhelming favorites Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek for the 200-meter gold in an African record time of 19.46s. Bednarek settled for silver, while Lyles, who later claimed he was dealing with COVID, took the bronze.

---

“She’s watching up there and she's really happy": Letsile Tebogo on late mother, Seratiwa Tebogo

Athletics: Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 13: Letsile Tebogo holds his shoe in remembrance of late Seratiwa Tebogo (Source: Getty)

Letsile Tebogo lost her mother, Seratiwa Tebogo, a day after he competed at the USATF LA Grand Prix in May 2024. Following his victory at the Paris Olympics 2024, Tebogo dedicated the win to his mother by holding up his shoe, which had her mother’s date of birth written on it.

Speaking with the reporters after the race, Tebogo spoke about his gesture, claiming that it was meant to keep her with him.

“It's basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field," Tebogo said (via BBC)

He added:

"To take her [with me], it gives me a lot of motivation. She's watching up there, and she's really, really happy."

Tebogo took a month-long break following his mother's demise. Following the 200-meter gold, he ran a blistering anchor leg to add silver to his name in the men's 4x400-meter relay.