He is nominated alongside Ross Branch (motorsport) and Karabo Motlhanka (cricket). Tebogo was honoured with the World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award after his historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where he won the first ever gold medal for Botswana in the men’s 200m. The win also meant that he became the first African to win the 200m race at the Olympics. He was also named Male Track Athlete of the Year 2024. Tebogo also powered the men’s 4x400m relay team to an Olympic silver medal win. Tebogo became the first male winner of the newly inaugurated Jesse Owens Rising Star award at the Wanda Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium.
He also received the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) award for Best Male Athlete of Paris 2024. Tebogo’s achievements saw him being appointed De Beers Group brand ambassador. The Olympic champion was honoured as the Best Male African Athlete by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) over the weekend. Branch is a powerhouse following his successful performance in 2024, where he achieved the title of FIM World Rally-Raid Champion (W2RC), becoming the first African rider to win the title and securing a historic victory for both Botswana and Africa. Branch finished second overall in the 2024 Dakar Rally, which was a significant achievement in the prestigious event. He was also honoured as the FIM ‘Hero of the Year’ at the 2024 FIM Awards in Palma, Majorca, recognising his outstanding performance. Botswana men’s cricket team captain Motlhanka will also challenge for the top award following a successful 2024 season. Last year, the batsman and wicketkeeper walked away with the Public Athlete of the Year award from the same event. Meanwhile, Tebogo’s coach Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanyane is expected to walk away with the Coach of the Year award and he is in the same bracket as Ofentse Bakwadi (karate) and Podungwane Lesole of chess.
Other nominees Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Losika Motswagole (karate), Malak Macheng (tennis), and Natalie Banda (chess) Junior Sportsman of the Year: Prince Ngwako (karate), Ernest Kumevu (athletics), and Ntungamili Raguin (tennis) Sportswoman of the Year: Lethabo Sekano (karate), Naledi Marape (chess), and Oratile Nowe (athletics) Team of the Year: Women Kata senior team (karate), men’s national team (cricket), and senior 4x400m relay team (athletics) Umpire of the Year: Dorothy Okatch (basketball), Emmanuel Kgaboetsile (badminton), and Gaone Poane (tennis) Non-Citizen of the Year: William Rene Matike (judo) and Sumod Damodar (cricket) There are no nominees for the Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year award with disabilities. The Debswana Mining Company-sponsored Sportsperson of the Year award recipient will be announced on the day of the event.
