Country declares public holiday after winning first Olympic gold medal

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has declared Friday afternoon a public holiday in the country to celebrate runner Letsile Tebogo who won the country’s first Olympic gold medal by winning the 200 metres race at the Paris Summer Olympics yesterday Thursday.

Tebogo beat American rivals Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles to win Africa’s first 200m title and become the fifth-fastest man in history over the distance.

Tebogo, 21, ran in shoes bearing his mother’s date of birth, saying he carried them with him in her honour after her death last May.

President Masisi wrote in a statement posted on social media site X “His Excellency President Masisi, on behalf of all citizens, wishes to pay tribute to Letsile and express his eternal gratitude to his late mother.”

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—Dr. Mokgweetsi EK Masisi (@OfficialMasisi) August 9, 2024

Masisi said it was Letsili’s feat “This deserves that the nation pause and celebrate in a unique, appropriate and responsible way that will remain etched in the annals of the history of the Republic.”

Yesterday, Masisi wrote an article saying his voice had “completely disappeared” after he shouted encouragement to Tebogo as he watched on television, winning in 19.46 seconds.