The presence of Letsile Tebogo’s mother, Seratiwa Tebogo at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, and the support of Batswana back home are sure some of the ingredients to his winning formula as he continues to shine on the World arena.
In an interview from Budapest, Letsile’s mother was elated at her son’s performance at the Championships, where he has already bagged a silver medal – a first for Africa, in the 100 m race.
Tebogo on Sunday became the first ever African to win a medal in the 100m race for the continent since World Athletics started in 1983 and the second medalist in the World Athletics Championship for Botswana after Amantle Montsho won gold medal in 400m in 2011 in South Korea. He finished second scooping a silver medalist after clocking 9.88 behind American sprinter, Noah Lyles.
Under his mother’s watch, Tebogo went on to put up another great performance in Budapest scooping position one in the 200m heats, clocking 20.22 to qualify for the semi-finals, with the finals set for today (Friday).
His mother has revealed that it was important to have travelled to Budapest to support her son since the young man had been away from home for a long time, having last seen him at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix in April this year.
“We have not been together with Tebogo as a family for a long time since FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix, so the reunion here in Budapest has done us both good as you see him perform well from his 100m race and now has qualified for his 200m semi-final,” she said in delight.
She quoted that ‘a mother’s love always ignites some life into her kids’ therefore her support to Tebogo at the championship had encouraged him and gave him the energy, endurance to yearn for more wins.
Seratiwa is also grateful they have been receiving messages of well wishes, support and pledges in both monetary value and in kind from home and around the world.
She added that the African continent was also jubilant about Tebogo scooping a silver medal in the 100m making him the first ever African to win a medal in that category for the continent since World Athletics started in 1983.
