Botswana’s speed sensation Letsile Tebogo has been named the 2024 Male Track Athlete of the Year at Monaco’s prestigious World Athletics Awards. Tebogo’s groundbreaking season saw him make history as Africa and Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, stunning the field in the 200m final to defeat pre-race favourite Noah Lyles.
Clocking an African record of 19.46 seconds, Tebogo dominated the 200m, while American Kenny Bednarek took silver, and a Covid-stricken Lyles settled for bronze. The young Motswana star also anchored Botswana’s 4x400m relay team to a silver medal, setting a new African record in the process, cementing his status as a two-time Olympic medalist in his debut Games.
His stellar year included a fifth-place finish in the 100m Olympic final and a remarkable 300m World Best of 30.69 seconds. With a personal best of 44.29 seconds in the 400m, Tebogo ranked among the world’s elite across multiple disciplines.
While he fell short of a Diamond League title and a World Record, Tebogo’s historic achievements have elevated his status in athletics. Fans, media, and the World Athletics governing body unanimously recognized his record-breaking feats, crowning him the undisputed king of track for 2024.
