Letsile Tebogo - Botswana and Africa's Golden Olympian in the Men's 200 metres finals on August 8, 2024 in Paris, France
By Duma Boko
Our athletes have flown the flag and brought adulation upon our country. We call their names with immense pride. We witnessed the stunning victory of Letsile Tebogo, who is worth his weight in gold, at the Paris Olympics.
We all united, fractured and fissured nation that we are, as he touched the very nimbus of glory, and brought it all home to all of us.
It was a moment of joy for a people generally low on hope. The resulting euphoria is warranted. But it must not numb us and cause us to forget the grim realities facing us.
I pray that Letsile Tebogo’s victory serve as an inspiration to all our people; a sweet reminder of what dogged determination can produce.
Here is an ordinary child, from a humble background, of no remarkable parentage; ordinary as they come, who raises himself on his own bootstraps to conquer the world.
There are other children emerging from situations of bootlessness, who now have inspiration and affirmation, that they can also be great. His victory could not be sweeter and more meaningful.
Accorded no attention at all, mentioned mainly as a footnote to narratives about others deemed more colourful, he sent all detractors and doubters into bewildered silence.
He pulled off a spectacular and historic victory; a first for Botswana. The boastful noises of the entitled were silenced.
We celebrate.
(C) TPA2024
