Letsile Tebogo on how he coped with his mother's loss during Olympic season
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 10.10.24. | 16:02
Throughout his mother’s illness, Tebogo travelled frequently and visited her whenever possible
When Letsile Tebogo lost his mother, Seratiwa Tebogo, it felt like his world was caving in.
Seratiwa passed away on Sunday 19 May 2024 after a short illness. At the time of her passing, Tebogo was in the US competing at the USTAF Los Angeles Grand Prix where he finished second in the 100m.
The tragedy struck in the middle of what would become an unforgettable Olympic season, where Tebogo would make history for Botswana by winning gold in the 200m at the Paris Olympics.
But how did he cope with the loss?
“The first few days or few weeks after my mum died were super-difficult for me because I thought it was the end of the world, the end of my career, the end of everything I have tried to accomplish,” he told World Athletics.
In those difficult moments, the Motswana wunderkind found strength from the people around him. His coach and teammates stood by him, encouraging him to take things one day at a time and allowing him to participate in whatever capacity he could manage.
“But then the people who were around me, my coach and my team, told me to take each day as it comes, one step at a time. Don’t try to make a big step when you can’t manage to handle it.
So, they pushed me on, day in, day out. There were days when I didn’t have the motivation to train. So, they said, ‘Just come, show up, come watch us train, maybe you will be motivated as you see us doing the job. But don’t put yourself under pressure.’ That’s how it was,” he recalled.
As time passed, Tebogo began to regain his motivation. He distanced himself from the surroundings that reminded him of his mother’s absence. This move enabled him to focus on his training and return to the track with renewed resolve.
“And then eventually everything started to just click in, and I just said, no, as a runner let us get away from this country and just come to Europe and then it will be much easier doing everything away from where the tragedy happened,” he explained.
Winning gold in Paris was his way of paying tribute to his late mum.
“It was a great tribute to her because she has always been caring. Through thick and thin, she had always been there, supportive of everything I did,” he averred.
Throughout his mother’s illness, Tebogo travelled frequently and visited her whenever possible. He however believes that she fully understood the demands of his career.
“I was there when she was sick but I was not (often) there because I was having to travel back and forth. I just visited her when I could, but she understood that my job didn’t allow me to just leave – but I believe she understands, wherever she is,” he said.
The Botswana sprinter bounced back from the demise of his mother to claim a stunning gold at the Paris Games ahead of, amongst others, fan-favourite Noah Lyles.
He won in an African record of 19.46 seconds, a time that took him to fifth on the all-time list. Tebogo also became the first African to win the Olympic 200 meters.
He returned to a rapturous welcome in Gaborone after the triumph, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi greeting the sprinter and other Olympic athletes after he had declared an impromptu half-day holiday.
Tebogo announced himself on the global stage with a 100m silver and 200m bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Since winning gold at the Olympics, he has won the 200m at Diamond League events in Lausanne, Silesia, Rome, and Zurich, the latter in an outstanding 19.55sec in wet and cold conditions.
He ended his 2024 season with a loss after being defeated by Kenny Bednarek in the men's 200m final at the Brussels Diamond League. He settled for the second position in 19:80s.
