PERSPECTIVE SPORTS MAGAZINE

Sept/Oct ‘23

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TALKING SPORTS INJURIES WITH

DR LES ODISENG

Sporting injuries are any form of stress placed on your body during sporting activity that prevents it from functioning to the full and will required a period of rest or reduction in activity.

Back injuries Bone fractures, Tendinitis Tennis/golfer’s elbow Ankle sprains Runner’s/jumper’s knee Knee ligament rupture

It affects your musculoskeletal system (Bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, muscles and bursae) The symptoms are pain, swelling, tenderness, inability to use or place weight on the affected area

Causes are: Failure to warm up Failure stretch Poor hydration Overtraining Simple accident Inappropriate equipment Poor exercise technique Previous injuries Muscle imbalance Poor flexibility

Acute injuries or traumatic injuries are a result of a specific impact or traumatic event (Bone fractures, muscle and tendon strains, ligament sprains and bruises).

Chronic injuries are overuse injury which are due to wear and tear over a long period of time. They include bursitis, tendinitis and stress fractures. Occur in endurance sports and those with repeated activities.

Before any form of exercise you must hydrate well. You need 500 mls of fluid​s in the half hour before exercise and 500 mls every hour and 500 mls after exercise. If it too hot you need more. Check the colour of urine.

It should be clear. If your exercise is long as in hiking you will need sports drinks to replace electrolytes and glucose. You need to stretch and warm pre-exercise and same post exercise.

Dr Les Odiseng, Sports Physician

Many minor injuries are simple and can be created at home. More serious ones need professional advice. It’s important to understand and recognise the symptoms so that you can have the most appropriate treatment so you can return to your sporting activity.

The types of injuries you may have in sports are: Groin Strains Shin splints Neck strains

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For Immediate Release 29 September 2023

STANBIC BANK SPONSORS BIUST WITH P500,000 IN CELEBRATION OF THE 8TH GRADUATION CEREMONY PALAPYE - Stanbic Bank Botswana continues to raise the educational flagship by actively participating annually at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) graduation through its sponsorship on 22 September 2023. This year, the bank is excited to be part of the university’s narrative as it celebrates its 10th Anniversary and its 8th Graduation ceremony.

The graduation ceremony was held in Palapye under the theme, “Re-setting, Re-adjusting, Reclaiming, and Driving Change through Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship,” embodies BIUST’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and equipping the next generation of leaders with the skills required to drive transformative change in today’s dynamic world. The sponsorship of P500,000 reaffirms Stanbic Bank’s commitment to education, innovation and youth development.

Speaking at the event Stanbic Bank Botswana Chief Executive, Chose Modise said, “This marks our 5th year as a diamond sponsor for this auspicious occasion, and we further found it fitting to increase the value to P500k, in recognition of the institution’s role in capacity building around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). We recognise the paramount importance of higher education in shaping the future of our nation. Our commitment to making a sustainable contribution to access to higher education, employment initiatives, employability, and job creation remains unwavering.”

We believe in creating sustainable shared value for the communities, empowering individuals to unlock their greatness and thereby contributing to the growth of Botswana. Our partnership with BIUST is a true testament to our dedication to investing in the future of Botswana.

The primary objective of BIUST, ever since its inception in 2006, has been to cultivate a cadre of exceptional graduates in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), who possess the capability to engage in cutting-edge research and foster innovation on a global scale. This endeavour facilitates the expansion and progress of various industries, thereby fostering the evolution of a multifaceted, intelligence-driven economy. This entails a robust commitment to fortifying the academic value chain, encompassing the domains of education and knowledge acquisition, scholarly inquiry and inventive breakthroughs, as well as active involvement in societal progress.

Modise concluded by saying, “Stanbic Bank Botswana and BIUST are persist in their commitment to PERSPECTIVE

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fostering collaboration for the sake of advancement, as their enduring partnership is founded upon shared principles and a collective aspiration to influence the lives of young individuals and scholars.

This is the strategic approach through which we allocate resources towards the advancement of Botswana’s future prospects, thereby propelling its economic expansion. This is why we say Botswana is our home, we drive her growth.”

-ENDS For more information contact: Taazima Kala-Essack, Hotwire PRC Lead Consultant taazima@hotwireprc.com or +267 3923579 OR Ruth Lorato Sibanda, Stanbic Bank Botswana Public Relations Manager sibandar@stanbic.com or +267 3618230

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SPORTS

TOURISM Each year, World Tourism Day is celebrated on 27

EDITOR’S BUBBLE September. Sports and tourism can go hand-inMPHO MOOKA PERSPECTIVE MAGAZINE

hand to achieve social and development objectives.

Tourism is one of the world’s most portant economic sectors. It allows people to experience the world’s different cultural and natural riches and brings people closer to each other, highlighting our common humanity.

The many important contributions of tourism encouraged the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to institute World Tourism Day, celebrated annually since 1980 on 27 September, to highlight the importance of tourism and its impact on our society.

TOURISM AND SPORTS

According to UNWTO, tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world, while sport is one of the world’s largest social phenomenon. As a professional or leisure activity, sport often involves travel to other places, to play and compete in various destinations. Further, major sporting events, PERSPECTIVE

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such as the Olympics and various World Cups, have become powerful tourist attractions.

Sports tourism constitutes a large part of the tourism industry, with some sources claiming that a quarter of all tourism in the world is sportsrelated. Sports tourism includes not only participation in and attending sporting events, but also personal recreational activities. Statements from the World Tourism Organisation and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have highlighted the importance of sports tourism; in 2004, the organisations committed to reinforcing their partnership and collaboration in the sports tourism domain, stating that “Tourism and sport are interrelated and complementary… both are powerful forces for development, stimulating investment in infrastructure projects such as airports, roads, stadiums, sporting complexes and restaurants- projects that can be enjoyed by the local population as well as tourists who come to use them.”

SPORTS TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Tourism is an essential pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a segment of tourism, sports tourism can also help achieve sustainable development.

At an economic level, sports tourism contributes to SDGs (end poverty in all its forms (everywhere) and (promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all). Sports tourism promotes local businesses, creating demand in areas such as transportation, hotels and restaurants. Thus, local populations can avail jobs and income opportunities. Depending on the nature of the sports and experiences, local people can work as instructors and guides, who are likely to be paid more due to their special skills.

Further, sports tourism contributes to SDG (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). Besides providing the tourists with sporting opportunities and an outlet for physical exercise, investment in sports tourism can also promote the participation of local populations in sporting activities.

Finally, sports tourism can also contribute to SDG 11 (make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Accessible sports

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tourism products like hand bikes provide access to sports opportunities for people with disabilities. Para-sport activities can be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike. The development of accessible sports tourism can improve accessibility in the destination city by the provision of not only sports products, but also accessible accommodation and transport.

Furthermore, accessible sports tourism helps increase the understanding of people with disabilities in society.

SPORTS, TOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY

Sports federations, like the IOC, have realised the need for sustainable practices during mega sporting events. Thus, the IOC launched the International Federation (IF) Sustainability Project in 2016 to obtain an overview of their sustainability initiatives, identifying common topics, challenges and good practices.

Building on the Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC Sustainability Strategy was developed in close cooperation with many stakeholders and partners to fundamentally shape the working practices of the IOC, the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement.

To develop synergies between the stakeholders so that sports and its facilities can be included in the local assets, it is necessary for decisionmakers at all levels to understand their potential and agree to work together to set up sustainable development strategies.

Host cities should target participants who are most likely to engage in sustainable behaviour while in the destination. This includes developing event portfolios geared towards sustainable event practices. The host city should also harness collaborative partnerships to foster social cohesion and build the capacity to increase sustainable practices.

From the design and construction of sports facilities and the way resources are managed, to valuing the natural environment and health and well-being of people, all decisions should be informed by sustainability principles. As the role and relevance of sport in today’s society continue to grow, progress can only be in cooperation and partnership with others, including the tourism industry.

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1 10 LEARNING POINTS FROM THE 2 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023

RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN A multitude of records have been shattered on and off the field. For the first time Germany were knocked out in the group stage and USA failed to win at least a bronze, losing in the last 16. The overall attendance record of 1,353,506 for Canada 2015 was broken inAustralia and New Zealand with the Sweden v USA last-16 match.

Ticket sales smashed the initial target. In short: a tournament for the history books.

THERE HAS BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF STUNNING GOALS. Before a World Cup there are always discussions about who could score the goal of the tournament. Who will produce a piece of magic that makes everyone stop and stare? There have been a few contenders, such as Leicy Santos’s strike for Colombia against England in the quarter-final, Brazil’s Beatriz Zaneratto linking up with Ary Borges against Panama and Katie McCabe’s goal straight from a corner for Ireland against Canada. But Marta Cox’s free-kick against France in the group stage has to take the top prize. Panama’s first World Cup goal was an absolute stunner from outside the penalty area.

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ALL TEAMS NEED FURTHER INVESTMENT. REFEREEING GOOD BUT ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Overall the officiating has The tournament has underpinned the been good, with clear, consistent decisions, urgency of investment for women’s and referees have not worried about overturning national teams. Jamaica had to fundraise in order to travel, Nigeria’s team are still in a pay an on-field decision after reviewing it. There have dispute with their federation and South Africa been a few games where the officiating has come protested before the World Cup because of pay into question, for example the Spain v Sweden semifinal, with a few fouls that should have been given issues. Investment should be made regardless overlooked; Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt shared her of where teams finished at the World Cup but frustration after the game. There were also a few good performances by those sides have shone inconsistencies over thetournament as a whole. a spotlight on the issues: after Nigeria’s 3-2 win

FEMALE GOALKEEPERS have been widely CHANGING OF THE GUARD. So many disrespected in the past and there have players have played their last World even been suggestions that the goals Cup. The USA’s two-time winner Megan Rapinoe bowed out in the last 16, Marta played should be made smaller. The latest twist came her sixth and final World Cup with Brazil out in shortly before the World Cup began with Mary the group stage and the talismanic Christine Earps revealing Nike were not selling replicas of Sinclair has probably bowed out, too, with six the England Keeper’s shirt for fans. The outrage from that revelation has been the backdrop finals, after Canada’s early exit. to some superb performances, with Earps, VAR SHOULD BE USED MORE widely in the Netherlands’ Daphne van Domselaar and women’s football Lauren James’s red card, Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold winning player-ofLina Hurtig’s winning penalty and Georgia the-match awards. Arguably the best.

Stanway’s spot-kick against Haiti were all key OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE CAUGHT UP moments that required a VAR review. England’s WITH THE USA ..USA had been a dominant James was initially shown a yellow but it was force for such a long time. They have upgraded to a red, Hurtig’s penalty against the always been among the ones to watch but over USA needed VAR to determine it was over the the past 10 years they have been devastatingly line by a matter of millimetres and Stanway difficult to take on. They had won back-to-back initially had her penalty saved against Haiti but World Cups and headed into this tournament as VAR showed Kerly Théus had moved offher line one of the favourites. But they were dumped out too quickly. These crucial interventions prove at the earliest stage they have ever exited. Their women’s football needs VAR introduced more tactics were criticised, particularly in the group broadly, at club level. stage, with some suggesting the team were still relying on having superior fitness, which is Bonmatí is a real Ballon d’Or contender not the case any longer.

Aitana Bonmatí has been a key cog in Spain’s progress to the final. Her technical JAPAN’S HINATA MIYAZAWA. She ability and creative edge have helped her score scored five goals and provided three goals and provide two assists, and her one assist, putting her at the top performances should surely consolidate a Ballon of the Golden Boot standings despite Japan d’Or nomination. Bonmatí won the treble with being knocked out in the quarter-finals. There Barcelona in 2022-23 – In the last of these, Bon- are some playerswho could knock her off matí was the joint second-highest scorer with top spot, including Spain’s Bonmatí and Jenni five goals and had the most assists, with seven. Hermoso (both scoring three goals and having A World Cup winner’s medal could help secure a two assists) and England’s Lauren James (three Ballon d’Or. goals and three assists).

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Letsile Tebogo receives P150,000.00 through Orange Botswana partnership after a stellar performance at the World Championships in Budapest

Tebogo Letsile and Orange Botswana, bright smiles!

GABORONE: Orange Botswana is delighted

to extend a celebratory welcome home to Letsile Tebogo, Botswanas sprinting sensation and Orange’s brand ambassador. Following his extraordinary performance at the World Championships 2023, Orange Botswana welcomed and celebrated the champion at the Homecoming engagement on the 27th of September 2023 at Orange Botswana Headquarters rooftop.

Through his partnership with Orange Botswana, Letsile Tebogo was presented with a cheque of P150,000.00. This gesture reflects Orange Botswana’s commitment to acknowledging his talent and accomplishments in raising the Botswana flag high on the international podium.

Orange Botswana also extended a token

of appreciation to Letsile’s coach, Coach Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane amounting to P10,000.00.

Said Orange Botswana Acting CEO, Maano Masisi, “We desire to cultivate enduring relationships with aspiring young Batswana, much like Letsile, who embody dedication, focus, and excellence in their endeavors.

Bagaetsho, I would like you to consider this: at his youthful age, Letsile has already shattered records, etching new milestones for the African continent and beyond. He soars our nation’s flag high, and for this, Batswana and the entire African continent stand in solidarity and trust in his capabilities. Continue to make us proud, Schoolboy!”

Over the years, Orange Botswana has consistently demonstrated its commitment

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PICS (Left to Right): Tebogo Letsile with his big cheque, Orange Acting CEO Mr Maano Masisi, BAA General Manager Ms P. Wilson, Tebogo and Orange EXCO (Above), Ms P. Wilson, PR & Communications: Ratang Motladiile & Sponsorship cordinator: Segomotso Kgwatalala

to supporting local activities such as the sponsorship of the Orange Phikwe National Marathon for the past 6 years and collaboration with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) for the Orange FA Cup Tournament. Orange Botswana has played an integral role in nurturing sporting talent within the nation. Furthermore, upholding the importance of investing in local athletes who continue to bring pride and recognition to Botswana on the international stage.

The results of Letsile Tebogo’s hard work and dedication have left an indelible mark on the world of athletics. He currently holds the World U20 100m record, making him the fastest U20 sprinter in the world.

Tebogo is furthermore the first Motswana athlete to secure the 100m title at the World Championships in Oregon, United States of America, in 2022. He also claimed gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m at both the 2021 and 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships. Orange Botswana is both honoured and proud to have an athlete of Tebogo’s calibre to be affiliated with the brand.

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RUGBY

BOTSWANA RUGBY UNION BAGS LUCRATIVE SPONSORSHIP FROM WestSURE INSURANCE COMPANY We chat with BRU head of marketing Simon Kanaimba Q1: What exactly does this mean for both your organization and rugby fans, what is the sponsorship worth?

Simon: This will greatly contribute to the world of rugby in the county at quite a larger scale and assist in growth and development of the sport. We are looking at investing in talent development, positioning Botswana rugby at a more international scale which will yield great opportunities for the athletes.

Q: Now in terms of restoring rugby fans confidence do you anticipate carrying out much work with body

Simon: Since inception / official launch PERSPECTIVE

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of this relationship there has been some significant growth in our union which has been evident through response we are getting from rugby fans across the country. “yes we will be capitalizing on that and working towards not only restoring the faith existing fans have in us but the rest country at large.

Q: Are you satisfied with your footprint so far in the country?

Simon: No the aim is to expand our footprint and discover individuals in remote areas with genuine love and passion for the sport. We also looking into exploring more impactful things we can do with both brands.

and WestSure Insurance. Secondly lead generation which then speaks to increasing brand foot print on both sides of the partnership. This will contribute to significant increase in sales and revenue.

Lastly community engagement and CRS have always been a huge part of Botswana Rugby Union. Having WestSure Insurance on board is a bonus because we share the same values and will fulfill that goal and position their brand as a valuable member of society.

Q: Are you playing any role in empowering Sports men outside the field of play as well?

Simon: Yes we are, outside the field we

provide players with career empowerment support where we can in matters close to their hearts. : What is your expected return on investment based sponsorship objectives?

Simon: Firstly the expectation is to build quality relationship and invest in more profitable partnership for both union

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LIFE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH SPORTS Now more than ever, we’re reminded how many life lessons can be taught by participating in sports. Coaches are teachers that can lead others in lessons such as how to stay positive, how to overcome adversity, how to work together for a common purpose, how to be resilient and how to be there for others. Achieving goals and overcoming obstacles can help teens persevere in uncertain times like these. Students can find a sense of belonging and accomplishment through individual sports and team dynamics.

Sports are symbolic of life. Life requires Teamwork, discipline, resiliency, respect, compassion, and character. Sports can develop those skills to apply on the playing field and in their life. We recently spoke with several different coaches from all over New Mexico, in a variety of sports, about the importance of sports and the lessons it can teach.

COMMITMENT For coaches, sports are an extension of the classroom. They encourage their athletes to always do their best on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Champions can be determined by their commitment to goals.

SELF-DISCIPLINE Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. It’s a saying coaches are used to preaching. Get up when you get knocked down. The self-discipline taught in sports allows a person to thrive in life with PERSPECTIVE

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a work ethic to improve. Self-discipline spills over into every aspect of life & is a highly common trait among successful people.

MENTAL TOUGHNESS Sports can teach a person to be strong in body and mind. Athletes learn to push their bodies beyond what they ever believed they could to achieve their goal. Whether it’s in practice or competition, a person can learn to overcome adversity they may not have

faced without sports.

LEARNING TO WORK WITH OTHERS Everyone doesn’t come from the same place.

Everyone has different skills and talents to contribute, but everyone has value. Athletes learn quickly that a team can achieve success when everyone contributes. Through collective hard work, kids learn to contribute to a greater good.

TEAMWORK Sacrificing one’s personal gain for the better of the group is a lesson taught in all teamsports. Athletes understand how they can best contribute using their strengths.

Together Everyone Achieves More (T.E.A.M.).

Players learn quickly that their best chance at success will be through cooperation with the teammates.

HANDLING FEAR AND FAILURE Whether it’s striking out, making an error, or just losing a game, failures happen in sports as well as life. Learning that not everyone gets to win can be a valuable lesson in someone’s early development. Life isn’t always fair.

Injuries happen, calls are missed. Players learn that getting angry or frustrated doesn’t always help and can affect their performance.

Losing with dignity is just as important as winning with class. A person can find success after learning from their failures.

RESILIENCE Not everything always goes according to plan.

Sometimes you get thrown a curveball at the plate, and in life. Athletes need to know how to bounce back. It’s ok to make a mistake, but how you come back from the setback will define you.

GOAL SETTING Setting a goal in place and finding a way to accomplish that goal in the face of adversity is a useful skill. After setting a goal, an athlete knows to work hard to reach it. That goal can be a motivator for improvement.

school, practice, and sometimes a job.

Being on a team can be a job in itself.

Sports teaches a person how to organize, prioritize, and focus on the importance of academics. Athletes know what they need to do and when to do it.

DEDICATION Every athletic season has a beginning and an end. Coaches preach to their kids to finish what you start. It’s one of the foundations of sport. Everyone wants to quit at some point, but dedication to improvement and becoming the best you can be is what keeps the athlete going.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY In sports, there are hurdles to get over, much like in life. Sometimes things can surprise you or catch you off guard. They say life is not about what happens to you, but how you deal with it.

PERSEVERANCE Having the tenacity and determination to accomplish something despite the level of difficulty doesn’t just apply to studentathletes, sports can teach the same perseverance to coaches too. Fight through it, don’t run from a situation when adversity strikes. There will be setbacks. There will be obstacles, but success doesn’t happen overnight.

PATIENCE Winning takes time. Championship teams aren’t built overnight. In sports you have a coach and in life you have a boss. You learn to take instruction, develop patience and become a member of a team.

RESPECT Athletes must respect their coaches, officials, teammates, and their opponent.

It is important to recognize the worth of another. ”

TIME MANAGEMENT Being a successful athlete takes a lot of dedication, but it also takes a lot of time.

Athletes have to juggle their time between

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WORLD CLASS! Letsile Tebogo

Letsile Tebogo Makes History with Silver at World Athletics Championships Sprinter Letsile Tebogo sets record as first African to win a medal at World Athletics Championships, eyed more glory in the 200m, and promising a bright future.

gold medal and delivered a sensational time of 9.83 seconds. Tebogo, with a personal best time of 9.88 seconds, showcased his immense talent and determination, coming in just fivehundredths of a second behind Lyles, the face of world athletics.

In a historic moment for African athletics, Letsile Tebogo, a 19-year-old sprinter secured a silver medal in the men’s 100-meter final at the World Athletics Championships. Tebogo’s achievement marks the first time an African athlete has clinched a medal in this event. The remarkable race, held in sweltering Hungarian heat, was dominated by American sprinter Noah Lyles, who had boldly promised a

Notably, Tebogo’s accomplishment sets him apart from several others who had attempted to break the 100-meter barrier at the World Athletics Championships but fell short. The last athlete to come close was South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who achieved this feat three times in 2017, 2019, and 2022.

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The significance of Tebogo’s achievement was evident when it was announced at the postrace press conference, receiving applause from both Lyles and the third-place sprinter, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes.

after, he shattered the 20-second barrier in the 200-meter race.

Reflecting on his silver medal, Tebogo expressed his pride, stating, “I’m really proud to win this silver medal. This medal is a bonus for me. That wasn’t the plan, the objective, it was just the final.” His performance at the World Athletics Championships solidifies his status as a rising star in global track and field.

Five things you probably didn’t know about Letsile Tebogo

At just 20, his times are incredible. By way of comparison, Usain Bolt, the greatest phenomenon in the history of sprinting, hadn’t managed to run A 100m under 10 seconds until he was 21.

FIRST AFRICAN ON THE WORLD 100M PODIUM Letsile Tebogo caused a sensation on the 20th August’s 100m final at the Budapest World Championships. He finished runner-up to American Noah Lyles. A first for Africa. His elders on the continent have always finished 4th or 5th. Even the greatest of them all, Franky Fredericks. The Namibian has been on the podium several times in the 200m and even runner-up in the 100m, but never in a World Athletics Championship. At just 20 years of age, Letsile is writing a fine page in the history of African sprinting.

Tebogo has been a rising star in world athletics, holding the title of double world junior champion in the 100 meters and double runnerup in the 200 meters in 2021 and 2022. His silver medal at the World Athletics Championships is the culmination of a phenomenal season for the young athlete, who also boasts the African record in the 200-meter race, set during the 2023 London Diamond League recently.

Looking ahead, Tebogo, now only 20 years old, had set his sights on the 200 meters in Hungary, where he was aiming to add another medal to his collection and came third. With his youth and potential, Tebogo is poised to break numerous records as he reaches his prime.

FOUR WORLD JUNIOR MEDALS Letsile Tebogo’s ascent has been meteoric but he is no UFO. He has been on the circuit for three years. In 2021, at the World Junior Championships in Nairobi, he had already shown the promise of a future star of African sprinting. In the Kenyan capital, he won the 100m world championship title and the 200m silver medal. A year later in Cali (Colombia), the native of Kanye, repeated his performances.

He was once again world champion in the 100m and runner-up in the 200m. His times are breathtaking: at under 20, he runs the 100m under 10 seconds (9s91, world junior record) and the 200m under 20 seconds (19s96).

Notably, Tebogo made history last year at the age of 18 by becoming only the second runner in history, alongside Bromell, to break the ten-second barrier in the 100-meter race before turning twenty. Shortly

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FASTER THAN BOLT AT 20 At just 20, his times are incredible. By way of comparison, Usain Bolt, the greatest phenomenon in the history of sprinting, hadn’t managed to run the 100m under 10 seconds until he was 21.

World vice-champion 2023 with a time of 9s88, Letsile Tebogo has more than 5 sub-10-second times. The ambitious youngster wants to reach the level of the Bolt legend. “It’s time for Africa to take control of sprinting on the international stage”;, he said.

BEST AFRICAN EVER IN THE 200M Letsile Tebogo had already caused a sensation on July 23, prior to his silver medal in the 100m at the Budapest World Championships. At the Diamond League in London, the Botswana Star clocked a superb time in the 200m to finish second (19s50), still behind Noah Lyles (19s47).

No African had ever run so fast on the half-lap. The Botswana athlete thus wiped Franky Fredericks’; record (19s70), set in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, off the books.

FAMILY, SOCCER AND TRAINING Born in Kanye on June 7, 2003, Letsile Tebogo was raised by a single mother with his younger brother.

Like virtually every kid on the continent, he first teased the round ball before returning to the slopes for good. “When I was a kid, I used to run in front of people, then I went to play soccer. It wasn’t a good time for me because I was always benched, which frustrated me. That made me decide to go back to athletics because I saw that it allowed me to put food on the table for my family,” he recounted in remarks relayed by Runblogrun.

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he World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 concluded on Sunday (27) after nine days of thrilling action in which superstars of the sport added to their legacy and new stars emerged as global champions.

A record total of 2100 athletes from 195 countries (plus the Athlete Refugee Team) have competed in the Hungarian capital, watched by more than 400,000 ticketed spectators from 120 countries, and producing one world record, one world U20 record, seven championship records, 11 area records and 73 national records.

The heightened competitiveness provided enormous drama in the field events in particular, where 13 athletes across eight events recorded their best mark in the final round of competition to improve their positions, five of them clinching the gold medal.

Meanwhile, US sprinters Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, Kenyan middle distance diva Faith Kipyegon, Dutch 400m hurdles specialist Femke Bol and dominant Spanish walkers Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez emerged as multiple title winners.

Lyles claimed the 100m and 200m double and anchored the USA men’s 4x100m relay team to victory, while Richardson set a championship record of 10.65 to win her first global title in the

100m, then anchored the USA team to a second championship record in the women’s 4x100m relay.

Kipyegon clinched a historic double, becoming the first woman to win both the 1500m and 5000m at the World Athletics Championships after breaking the world records over both distances this year.

Martin (20km and 35km race walk) and Perez (20km and 35km race walk) completed the first gold medal sweep of the race walks programme by one country, Spain.

Bol completed a drama-filled nine days by anchoring the Dutch women’s 4x400m team to a last-gasp victory in the final event, having fallen within metres of the finish line in the 4x400m mixed relay on the first night and won her first individual world title in the 400m hurdles in between.

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas won her fourth world triple jump title, while Lyles (200m), Kipyegon (1500m), Joshua Cheptegei (10,000m), Grant Holloway (110m hurdles) and Karsten Warholm (400m hurdles) have each won three titles in their core event.

With so many brilliant storylines, this will go down as the most engaging edition in the history of the sport.

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OTHER FIRSTS Neeraj Chopra won India’s first gold medal, in the men’s javelin. Hugues Fabrice Zango won Burkina Faso’s first gold medal, in the men’s triple jump. And Ivana Vuleta won Serbia’s first gold medal, in the women’s long jump.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (silver) became the first African man to win a medal in the 100m.

Haruka Kitaguchi became the first Japanese athlete to win the women’s javelin, and has the opportunity to defend her title before her home crowd in Tokyo in 2025.

Canada won both hammer throw titles, and four gold medals in total, for the first time.

Ernest Obiena’s silver in the men’s pole vault is the best result for the Philippines at the World Championships.

First medals for Pakistan (Arshad Nadeem’s silver in the men’s javelin) and the British Virgin Islands (Kyron McMaster’s silver in the men’s 400m hurdles).

Highest ever placings (first top eight) for Lesotho (Tebello Ramakongoana’s fourth in the men’s marathon) and St Lucia (Julien Alfred’s fourth in the women’s 200m and fifth in the 100m).

First shared gold at the World Athletics Championships – Katie Moon (USA) and Nina Kennedy (AUS) in the women’s pole vault (also shared bronze medal in the men’s pole vault – Chris Nilsen (USA) and Kurtis Marschall (AUS))

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