Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has declared an afternoon off on Friday, August 9, 2024, for Botswana to celebrate Letsile Tebogo winning the country's first-ever gold at the Olympics.

Tebogo won the Men's 200m race at the 2024 Olympic Games, breezing past two USA sprinting stars, Kenneth Bednarik and former 200m winner and reigning 100m champion Noah Lyles.

He claimed the historic gold medal and additionally set an African record in the 200m, clocking 19.46s.

In celebration of the 21-year-old's outstanding feat, the President stated that Tebogo's historic moment is worthy of a national celebration, hence the half-day holiday on Friday.

"This decision honours Letsile Tebogo as the first Motswana and the first African to win a gold medal in the 200 metres in Olympic history. His performance is outstanding and worthy of the nation pausing to celebrate him in a unique, appropriate, and responsible manner that will be etched in the annals of the Republic’s history," the President said in a statement signed by the Secretary to the President, Emmah Peloetletse.

Tebogo ran the race wearing spikes that had his mother's date of birth on them and flaunted them to the camera after winning the race in tribute to her passing in May 2024.


EE