The world watched him soar in 2024, but 2025 has tested Letsile Tebogo in ways no one saw coming. A season that was meant to be a statement of supremacy has so far told a story of setbacks, near misses, and unexpected finishes. But now, as the Diamond League caravan rolls into Rabat, Morocco, the sprinting prodigy from Botswana is standing at a crossroads. And he’s not just looking to return to form; he’s aiming for domination in both the 100m and 200m.
This isn’t just another race for Tebogo. It’s a mission. A chance to show the world that the early-season stumbles were just that: stumbles, not signs of decline. In Rabat, he will double up in the 100m and the 200m for the first time in his Diamond League career, taking on both sprint events on the same night. It’s a bold move with high risk, but even higher reward. Winning both races could silence every doubt that has crept up over the past few months.
And make no mistake. He’s not shying away from the challenge. Tebogo admits this is new ground. He’s never attempted this type of double in such quick succession, with just about an hour separating the two finals. But the thought of pulling it off? That fuels him. He’s clear about his strategy. Not letting the pressure consume him, choosing instead to focus on execution. “I mean, winning both races will definitely be a good night for me,” Tebogo said.
“Winning both races would be a successful night!”
Letsile Tebogo is eyeing double glory in the 100m and 200m at #RabatDL tomorrow.#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/UilD7xzF0n
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 24, 2025
“But I don’t want to put myself under that pressure. I’ll just come out here and then look how the hundred does because I believe the coach is happy with the 200,” he further added. Well, it looks like Tebogo knows where his strengths lie. While the 200m seems in sync with his training rhythm, something both he and his coach feel confident about. The 100m is still a work in progress.
In recent races, that’s where cracks have shown. From coming second at the ASA Grand Prix to missing the top five entirely in Xiamen, the shorter sprint has been a source of frustration. Add to that the rise of Akani Simbine, who has bested him twice this year, and the stakes become even higher. Still, Tebogo believes the tweaks made in the past few days could bring the results he’s hunting for.
This Sunday in Rabat, Tebogo isn’t just chasing medals. He’s chasing momentum, redemption, and the version of himself that lit up Paris last year. The Olympian is also stepping into uncharted territory with ambition burning bright. Whether he wins one, both, or neither, one thing is certain: Letsile Tebogo is coming to fight. And if his legs deliver what his heart desires, Rabat might just witness the rebirth of a champion. More so because Letsile Tebogo has a unique aim- to break free and be a trailblazer for Africa.
Letsile Tebogo’s sprint to history sparks a new era for African athletics
“I wanted to make a breakthrough for African athletes.” With those words, Letsile Tebogo captured more than his personal ambition. He encapsulated the hopes of a continent. The 21-year-old sprinter from Botswana is not just rewriting the record books. But he’s redrawing the boundaries of belief for African athletes long overshadowed in sprinting’s global powerhouses.
Tebogo’s Olympic triumph in the 200m at Paris 2024 wasn’t just historic but was transformational. No African had ever topped the half-lap podium before him, and for decades, the medals were locked in a loop between the United States and Jamaica. Letsile Tebogo stated in a recent interview. “It was sad to see only two nations rule the sport for decades.”
He added, “I aspired to be the one to make it happen and then take in the world’s response. And that reaction has been heartwarming.” In his eyes, the win is not the finish line — it’s the starting gun for a new generation. That new generation is already stirring. Young athletes in Botswana, and across Africa, are beginning to shed what Tebogo calls a “layer of self-doubt.”
They now have a living, sprinting example that it’s possible to rise without relocating, to win without compromise. “What I’m most excited about, though, is the impact I have made on aspiring athletes,” Tebogo said. With each explosive stride, he’s opening a path not just through the finish line, but into a future where African athletes no longer chase history. They make it.
The post Letsile Tebogo Sets Lofty Goals as Olympic Champion Faces Major Threat From Akani Simbine and Returning Fred Kerley appeared first on EssentiallySports.
