Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the 100m world silver medallist, expressed his confidence on Thursday that the year 2024 will witness African sprinters rising to dominate the track season, leading up to the Paris Olympics.
Tebogo, aged 20, has already showcased his prowess this season with a remarkable world record performance in the men’s 300 meters event in South Africa back in February.
This weekend, he is geared up to compete in the 200m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, an event included in the World Athletics Continental Tour, positioned just below the prestigious Diamond League.
Speaking to reporters, Tebogo voiced his conviction, stating, “I strongly believe this is an African year because when you look at Ferdy Omanyala of Kenya, Akani Simbine of South Africa, and myself, we are ready to make significant strides.”
Tebogo made history in Budapest last year by becoming the first African athlete to secure a 100m medal at the World Championships, while also clinching the bronze in the 200m event.
Despite finishing seventh in the world 100m final, Omanyala holds the African record with a time of 9.77 seconds.
Tebogo remarked, “Omanyala is the fastest man in Africa in the 100 and I am the fastest in the 200.”
The Botswana sprinter expressed his delight in returning to Kenya, where he commenced his career at the Under-20 World Championships in 2021, where he clinched the silver medal in the 200m, trailing Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike.
Tebogo will face stiff competition from American Courtney Lindsey, who recently clocked a world-leading time of 19.88 seconds in Florida.
Omanyala, who will be participating in his first 100m event of the year, shared insights into his preparation, revealing, “This season I changed my coaches and now I am starting the season with a different mentality.
I haven’t done the 100m for eight months.” The 28-year-old athlete, who has transformed his physique to a leaner form, expressed uncertainty about his performance, stating, “I don’t know how this one is going to be but we’ll see.”
