It was here that the athlete claimed his first senior World Championships podium finish, with his mother, Seratiwa, by his side at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, before she passed away in May 2024, just months before the Paris Olympic Games. He claimed a historic double podium finish, winning silver in the men’s 100m and bronze in the 200m. The achievement made him the first African man to finish on the podium in the 100m at the World Athletics Championships. Tebogo said he had not even thought about that fact until it was brought up adding that he had not dwelled on the fact that he would be returning to Budapest without his mother. “It has been a bumpy ride, having to think about it and having to continue with the grind,” Tebogo said during a virtual press conference organised by World Athletics. “I believe she is always there with me in spirit. And on days when giving up is an option, she pushes me to give my absolute best.
I believe the memories that we had in Budapest will still come again.” The 200m Olympic champion will compete in the men’s 100m, where he is ranked 14th, and the 200m at the Ultimate Championships, which run from September 11 to 13. However, it will not be a walk in the park, with stiff competition expected from American Diamond League winner Kenneth Bednarek, South African and Commonwealth champion Sinesipho Dambile, and Zimbabwean sprinter Makanakaishe Charambe. Tebogo will also have to put aside his disappointing Diamond League 200m final, where he clocked 20.01s to finish fourth. The men’s 100m is equally stacked, with Diamond League winner and World Champion Oblique Seville, Emmanuel Eseme and Trayvon Bromell amongst those expected to challenge for the title. Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanyane said Tebogo did not suffer a knock during the Diamond League final, but simply had a tough day in the office.
