World Athletics Approves Tebogo’s World U-20 9.91 100m Record

He has remained unperturbed because his coach and BAA were always confident that it was only a matter of time before the record was ratified and officially confirmed

GAZETTE REPORTER

Botswana’s sensational sprinter Letsile Tebogo is officially the World Under-20 100m record holder after he clocked 9.91 at the 2021 World Under 20 Championships held in Cali, Colombia in August last year.

This comes after the world athletics governing body, World Athletics temporarily suspended his 9.91 record due to technical and timing issues encountered during the competition.

This happened when Tebogo successfully defended his 100m record that he obtained in Nairobi, Kenya in 2021 before he broke the championship record in Cali last year in his heat with 10.00 and won his semifinal in 10.14 before going on to dominate the final in 9.91 (0.8m/s).

 

Second record
This is Tebogo’s second record that had to be ratified by World Athletics after he clocked another stunning 9.94 at the World Athletics Senior Championships held in Oregon, USA in 2022. His 9.91 record was ratified alongside Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 marathon world record and Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team.

Prior to the ratification, Tebogo was unperturbed by the controversy, saying he was confident that the times would be confirmed and made official.

“My coach told me that my record was subject to ratification and that I need not worry because the sort of thing often happens to athletes,” he said. “I relaxed and remained focused so that the issue would not derail me from attaining my goals.”

 

BAA confident
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) was also confident that Tebogo’s record would be ratified because it had nothing to do with doping or any such serious issues. “The process is usually done by thee track expects in order to satisfy their doubts,” said BAA Vice President Administration, Oabona Theetso explained.

“It is not common that records subject to ratification get overturned unless there are issues of doping in question, the unavailability of wind reading or wind-assisted performance.”

Tebogo’s consistency and exceptional performance earned him a lucrative endorsement deal from Orange Botswana in December 2022 where the company committed to providing financial support to the young sprinter as part of his growth in competitive sports.

 

The Face of Orange Botswana
He is the face of Orange Botswana across its products, services and offerings. The Kanye native holds multiple local, continental and international accolades and records that he achieved in a period of two years.