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Sprint sensation, Tebogo Letsile and his coach, Dose Mosimanyane dashed into the Okavango Delta and Linyanti for a four-day long wilderness safari experience courtesy of Wilderness Safaris.
The company is hosting the duo at its premium camps: Mombo Wilderness and Wilderness Dumatau in the Okavango Delta and Linyanti respectively. This is in recognition of Letsile’s phenomenal athletics season and remarkable achievements that have not only captured the hearts and minds of the nation, but have resonated far beyond Botswana’s borders, the company said.
To highlight some of his achievement, Tebogo 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 medal after clocking 9.88 behind American sprinter, Noah Lyles. He also won the bronze medal in the men’s 200m final and also went on to compete in the Diamond League finals.
In an interview, Tebogo appreciated the gesture by Wilderness which he said will help him loosen up before everything goes back to normal soon. He noted that this will help him to reset from zero and set the new goals for the upcoming season.
“I feel I am tired, so there is need for a reset to zero that is when I can have the hunger to do better again,” he stressed.
For his part, coach Mosimanyane indicated that the ended season was Tebogo’s first at a senior level and has been his longest looking at the level of competition they had, appreciating that the gesture couldn’t have come at a better time because they really need to have a rest away from athletics all together.
“In other season you will find that just starting with local competitions, the intensity is not that high and we can go up without meeting any up until at the championships that is where the intensity goes up. Once you get into the diamond league circuit there is no break because every race it’s like championship finals. We meet the same guys that we would meet at the champions so wear and tear of the muscles is different from other seasons and also mentally you are always pushing hard,” the coach indicated.
He added, “I have also asked not to see anything that got to do with athletics. It’s an opportunity for us to just go and seat, look at the world in another different perspective away from athletics.”
The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) in December last year, listed Mosimanyane and Tebogo amongst Africa’s best for the year 2022.
Mosimanyane was listed at the top of the “Best Coaches of the Year” category, and deservingly so considering the results brought forth by Tebogo under his tutelage in the 2022 track and field season.
Tebogo topped the “Male Prospects Athletes”, for his splendid performance in the year 2022, emerging as a World U20 Record Holder in 100m, Championship Record Holder in 200m, a world U20 champion in 100m to name but a few of his 2022 achievements.
Meanwhile, Wilderness has said in recognition of this, Wilderness is pleased to host Letsile and Kebonyemodisa to experience the magic of two of Wilderness’ premier camps: Wilderness Mombo and Wilderness DumaTau.
“As a Botswana-based business, Wilderness has been following Letsile’s journey with immense pride and admiration. His unwavering determination, commitment, and passion have served – and continue to serve – as a powerful source of inspiration for us all. He is a true treasure of talent, or as we say at Wilderness, one of our dinaledi; We hope that the unrivalled beauty of the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti will provide the perfect backdrop for Letsile to celebrate and relax after his incredible achievements”, Okavango Wilderness Safaris Chairman Kabelo Binns said.
