The ginger-haired Justice Oratile had announced his arrival on the big stage. He ran the second leg of the relay following a strong first leg by compatriot Lee Eppie to give the team a bronze medal. The World Relays thrust the unheralded Oratile into prominence. Oratile told MmegiSport that he started athletics at a young age as he loved running and realised that he had the talent. “I have never played any other sport, my focus has always been on athletics. This is something that I felt happy when I was doing; unfortunately, I have never competed in any school competition due to the absence of school sports. But that did not kill my dream,” he said. Oratile said his major competition was the World Under-20 Championships and the World Athletics Relays. He said his number one principle is to always give his all when given an opportunity. “It is not every day that you wake up that your body agrees to go. You have to dig deep for that to happen. There are a lot of talented athletes out there who are also fighting to be in the national team, being able to wear the blue, black, and white kit is something special that I do not take for granted,” he said.
Oratile completed his Form Three at Gaborone West Junior Secondary School. He said, unfortunately, he did not do well in the final examinations. “My dream is to represent Botswana at the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Games and to be able to run Sub 44 in 400 metres. I compete in 200 metres and 400 metres, but my favourite is 400 metres because it challenges me mentally and physically, it is where I am in control,” the 19-year-old said. Oratile scooped two gold medals in the 200m and 400m in Namibia during the AUSC Region 5 Games. He also claimed a hat trick in Abeokuta, Nigeria, where he won three gold medals, following his 200m and 400m titles, including a relay gold. Oratile’s coach, Collar Mosimakoko, said he started working with Oratile in 2022 when he was still doing Form Two at G-West Junior Secondary School. “The athlete came to the National Stadium. He told me that he wanted to train. I told him that we could try, see what he has, and the rest followed. At that time, there was no school sport; he wanted to be given an opportunity. I saw his potential and talent from the word go. My philosophy is not to rush athletes but to take time such that they can stay longer in athletics and be able to easily prevent injuries,” he said. Mosimakoko said it has been wonderful to work with the athlete as he is committed and always on time for training.
