Can unassuming Tebogo be athletics’ new poster boy?

Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday August 26, 2023 06:00

During his prime, Bolt had a bold presence on the track; he was charismatic and an ever-animated character before and after every race. The former Jamaican sprinter’s confidence presented him as an ultimate doer and his presence could be felt miles away.

He backed his loud character with action on the track as he recorded the fastest times in the two short sprints, the 100m and 200m. Since Bolt, no athlete has cemented his position as the World Athletics poster boy. South African quarter-mile runner, Wayde van Niekerk was once tipped to claim the throne as he cruised to a 400m world record at the 2016 Olympic Games.

This was a year before Bolt retired but injuries saw van Niekerk fall down the pecking order. Christian Coleman set the world alight, as he became a world champion at the 2019 World Athletics Championship.

He has also struggled with form and injuries in recent times. World Athletics’ seller has since been Jamaican female sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce but she is also past her prime days. Noah Lyles of the USA is surely coming for the crown. He warned his rivals that he would be walking away with three gold medals at the 2023 World Athletics Championship. The 26-year-old is competing in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Lyles showed boldness with an exchange of words with countryman and former world champion, Fred Kerley. Kerley warned that he would run faster than the 9.65s, the world record in the ongoing championship in Budapest, Hungary.

“I’m Fred Kerley, it is my title,” he said. “If Noah will run 9.65, I’m running faster.” In response, Lyles said: “That is what they say until they get beat (en)”.

Lyles brought his most flamboyant self in the final on Sunday.

His fellow competitors had walked into the starting positions as the announcer called them out. Lyles, however, showed some bit of energy and looked pumped up for the race before he went on to claim the world title.

Tebogo came second in the race, clocking a Personal Best and breaking the national record. The local lad was the calmest of the eight sprinters in the line-up. His calm demeanour surely turned the focus on Lyles and Tebogo powered to a 9.88s time.

The Kanye-born runner has stayed away from public scrutiny during the competition as he opted out of social media. The 20-year-old’s talent on the track is undoubted and he is a natural contender to break the world record.

The young sensation has gone for unorthodox training methods as he said he does not do weight training and relies on raw power. He avoids self-praise during media interviews as the pronoun ‘we’ dominates the conversation. As rivals announced their intentions for the world throne, Tebogo said he was content with making it to the final. The sprinter’s humility was echoed after the 100m race where he paid homage to fellow African sprinters, Akani Simbine of South Africa and Kenyan, Ferdinand Omanyala. Tebogo became the first African to win a medal in the 100m World Athletics Championship.

But just a year ago during the 2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, Tebogo showed he could rise to the showman pizzaz which often became Bolt’s trademark.

He imitated Bolt’s ‘pointing finger’ celebration as he smashed the world junior record with a time of 9.91s. But at the senior level, Tebogo’s character has been largely reserved. He has commercial appeal as he is starting to draw big brands to his side which include Orange Botswana and recently luxury chronograph watch marker, TAG Heuer, alongside sportswear designer, Nike.

As the search for athletics’ next pin-up boy, Tebogo has chosen to be more of an introvert and if he is to succeed Bolt as the face of the world of athletics, it will be a sharp departure from the exuberance of the Jamaican legend.