Botswana President Declares Today Half-Day Work To Celebrate First Olympic Gold Medal 

BOTSWANA President, Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe, has declared today (Friday, 9th August 2024) a half-day work to celebrate Letsile Tebogo’s historical and the country’s first Olympic gold medal by winning the 200-metre sprint in Paris on Thursday.

Tebogo triumphed over U.S. sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles to claim Africa’s first 200m title and become the fifth-fastest man in history over the distance.

The 21-year-old ran in spikes bearing his mother’s date of birth, saying he carried her with him, in a tribute after she passed away in May.“His Excellency President Masisi wishes to state that, on behalf of all of the citizenry, he applauds Letsile and gives thanks unceasingly to his late mother,” President Mokgweetsi Masisi was quoted as saying by the Permanent Secretary to the President, Emmah A. Peloetletse.

The decision has been duly made to recognise and honour Letsile Tebogo as the first Botswana and first African to win a Gold Medal for 200m in the history of the Olympics. Furthermore, the President underscores, recognises

and acknowledges Letsile’s performance and achievement as markedly outstanding and deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him in a most unique, appropriate and responsible manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic.

Masisi said Letsile’s achievement was “deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him in a most unique, appropriate and responsible manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic.”

Masisi had posted on Thursday that his voice was “completely gone” from shouting encouragement at the television as he watched Tebogo storm to the win in 19.46 seconds.

Eighteen-Eleven Media