Letsile Tebogo has already proven he’s a generational talent. Whether it was sprinting through the 100m and 200m or breaking boundaries as Botswana’s first gold medalist in the Olympics, he is undoubtedly a master of speed. But now, a new challenge looms—the 400 meters. Since he managed to cross a relay at a 43.4-second relay split, the mere query is not whether he can perform well at the range but rather how far he can get to the edge. Is 2025 the year Tebogo takes over the one-lap race? Well, the world is watching.
The answer isn’t as simple as charging into 2025 with all guns blazing. Tebogo’s team understands the importance of pacing themselves. As Anderson Emerole said in a video posted on the YouTube channel The Final Leg Track & Field, “They knew that this was going to be a good chance for them as 400-meter runners to be able to really challenge not only a fast time to get on the podium but to potentially go for gold.” That level of preparation takes time, and while the World Championships this year are a key milestone, they’re also looking much further ahead.
For the past couple of years, Letsile Tebogo and his team weren’t just training—they were laser-focused on one thing: the Olympic Games. As his coach put it while talking to track and field commentator Anderson Emerole, “We were preparing over the past couple of years specifically for the Olympic Games, not only Tebogo as an individual but also their 4×4 team.” And that preparation paid off. Tebogo didn’t just show up; he made history, winning Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 200m and delivering a jaw-dropping 43.4-second split in the 4x400m relay—only second to the legendary Michael Johnson.
That race wasn’t just a glimpse into Tebogo’s potential; it was a warning to the 400 m elite. He’s coming, and when he does, the record books might never look the same.
“So they were really prepping and ramping up for that. Now, as they look forward, yes, the World Championships this year is very important,” Emerole said. But it’s clear that 2025 is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle—one that extends all the way to the 2028 and even 2032 Olympics.
Looking back on his effortless 300m world record (30.69 seconds) to his dominant performances in the 100m and 200m, he has proved time and again that he belongs among the all-time greats. With back-to-back World Junior titles, multiple World Championship medals, and jaw-dropping times of 9.86 in the 100m and 19.46 in the 200m, the Botswana star was on a meteoric rise. And just when fans thought they had seen it all, he dropped a smooth 44.2 in the 400m, looking like he had more in the tank.
But now, with Paris in the rearview mirror, the question looms—what’s next?
Eyeing on 400 m this season, Letsile Tebogo has a long journey ahead
Fast forward to 2025, and instead of explosive times in the 100m or 200m, he’s running… 400m races? And not particularly fast ones at that. So, what’s going on?
Tebogo has already clocked three 400m races this season—48.94 seconds on February 15 at BAA Track And Field Series 2, National Stadium, Gaborone, and 46.55 seconds on March 4 at ACNW League 6, McArthur Stadium, Potchefstroom. And if that was not enough, another 400m on March 12, 45.42 seconds at ASA Athletics Grand Prix 1, Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria.
However, none of them standout, and in his last race, Letsile Tebogo even finished second. Given his Olympic gold and jaw-dropping relay performance, many expected him to challenge the best in the 400m immediately. But here’s the catch—his season isn’t about instant dominance, it’s about the long game. Next, he will be running 400 in Melbourne at the Maurie Plant Meet on March 29.
Plus, let’s not forget—the World Championships aren’t until September. We’re only in March. There’s plenty of time to improve. The best in the sport from Quincy Hall to Matthew Hudson-Smith, none of them took the glory soon. Tebogo is following the same blueprint. His early races are just stepping stones, and when the time is right, we might just see him crack the 44-second barrier. So, should we be concerned? Not at all. The question isn’t if Letsile Tebogo will stun us this season—it’s when. Stay tuned.
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