Thebe shifts focus to Olympic qualification
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday December 16, 2023 07:31
Thebe gained recognition by clinching a silver medal in the 200m during the 2014 Summer Youth Games. His breakthrough in the 400m occurred in May 2016, boasting a time of 44.22 seconds, positioning him third on the global seasonal lists and propelling him into the all-time top 30 for the event. The 2016 Summer Olympics witnessed him competing in two distinct events, and his personal best in the 400 meters stands at 44.02, achieved in July 2017. Former coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe nurtured Thebe into becoming one of the premier athletes globally.
However, Thebe encountered a setback when personal challenges impeded his career. He initiated a comeback last season as a member of the Botswana 4x400m mixed relay team aiming to qualify for the Budapest World Athletics Championships. Unfortunately, the men’s 4x400m relay team, including Thebe, faced disqualification in Budapest after recording a time of 2:59.42 in the final.
Speaking to MmegiSport, Thebe revealed he is currently based in South Africa under the tutelage of seasoned athletics coach Paul Gorries, with visits to Botswana limited to competitions. “I believe the 2023 season went very well for me. It was my first time competing under my new coach, Gorries. We were getting to know each other, and overall, striving for enhanced performance,” he stated.
Thebe approaches the upcoming season with confidence, aiming to secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. He benefits from the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) Olympic Solidarity scholarship, earned last year.
Concurrently, Botswana is preparing to assemble a contingent for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. National Federations for the Paris 2024 plan includes athletics, boxing, beach volleyball, taekwondo, and women’s football.
The athletics qualification period began in July, with five athletes already securing qualification across five disciplines. Leungo Scotch, Collen Kebinatshipi, and Bayapo Ndori qualified in the men’s 400m. Letsile Tebogo achieved qualification for the 100m and 200m, while Tshepiso Masalela secured a spot in the men’s 800m.
Despite the men’s 4x400m relay facing disqualification at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, the team currently holds the ninth position out of 16 teams automatically qualifying for Paris. The team, comprising Scotch, Ndori, Zibani Ngozi, Kebinatshipi, Thebe, and Laone Ditshetelo, stands poised to improve its ranking at the upcoming World Relay Championships in the Bahamas next year.
Amongst the athletes who have secured qualification, Scotch, Ndori, Thebe, and Tebogo are recipients of Olympic Solidarity scholarships, while Ngozi benefits from the Continental scholarship.