While running without shoes, Letsile Tebogo makes a burning statement about Usain Bolt’s record: “It won’t take long”

Letsile Tebogo is confident of breaking the 200m world record soon. The athlete who previously could not afford training shoes and trained barefoot is now at the pinnacle of athletics glory. After winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Tebogo seems to have kept his fire inside. Competing in the Lausanne Diamond League, the Botswana sprinter was able to add another feather to his crown. Tebogo ran an impressive time of 19.64 seconds to claim the gold medal. Having established himself as an authority in the 200m race, Tebogo is already speculating about breaking the world record.

The Botswana sprinter was expected to run under 19.19 seconds in Paris. That didn’t happen, but Tebogo’s 19.46 seconds in Paris was a class above the rest. For comparison, second-place finisher Kenny Bednarek was significantly slower at 19.62 seconds. Speaking to The Inside Lane at the Lausanne Diamond League, Tebogo was asked when he might break Usain Bolt’s world record. A smiling Tebogo made a bold claim when he said: “It won’t be long before I break the 200-meter world record.”

However, he also stressed that the sprinter did not want to put himself under unnecessary pressure by focusing solely on the world record. While Tebogo is currently enjoying unprecedented success and fame, his early days were marked by pain and hard work. Growing up in a small village in Botswana, Tebogo did not have the money to buy expensive training shoes. In fact, he also wore an old pair of trousers that belonged to his uncle. Tebogo also stressed that using second-hand items was a “generational thing” as he would otherwise have been seen as a “privileged child”.

In an interview with Pulse Sports, Tebogo recalled his early days: “I used to train without shoes. They were more expensive and we couldn’t afford that because we lived with our extended family, so it was difficult to get things.” Well, the hard work seems to have paid off for Tebogo. As he did at the Paris Olympics, he did some “crazy” things that shocked the athletics community.

Tebogo’s unexpected decision shocked fans after his 200-meter victory in Paris

Letsile Tebogo’s journey to the Paris Olympics began with heartbreak after finishing sixth in the 100m race. However, events that soon followed changed the course of the ‘Games’ for Tebogo. Paris indeed proved to be Tebogo’s home where he could shine. Letsile Tebogo was defeated by Lyles in the 100m race, but Tebogo was back in the 200m race and ran for redemption. Tebogo defeated the COVID-stricken Lyles to take gold in the 200m final in Paris. But he was still waiting to do the ‘craziest thing’.

The very next day, the stadium was packed with fans waiting to see the men’s 4x400m relay. But athletics fans were shocked to see Tebogo on the track. Less than 24 hours after the flawless 200m gold sprint, Letsile Tebogo was there with his teammates for another showdown. The sprinter from Botswana admitted the truth and declared himself: “Everyone was shocked that I was driving a 4×4 the next day. That’s the craziest thing I can think of.”

Despite running the 4x400m relay less than 24 hours after his 200m win, Tebogo gave his best for his country. Tebogo secured silver along with fellow Botswana sprinters Bayapo Ndori, Busang Kebinatshipi and Anthony Pesela. The Botswana men even broke the African record time of 2:54.53. Given the upward curve that Tebogo’s performance has shown this season, it is easy to predict that great things are on the horizon for him.