Schoolboy, as Tebogo is affectionately called by his supporters, powered to a new personal best (PB) and new National Record (NR) of 9.86, settling for position six.For the first time in history, all eight men clocked less than 10 seconds in a wind-legal race and the athletes produced 0.12 seconds, which was the smallest ever gap between the first and eighth in a global men’s 100m final. The sprinter carried on emotions of losing his mother in May, into the competition, and he was running in memory of his mother. Despite missing out on winning the third medal for Botswana at the Olympics, Tebogo has already banked P25, 000 which was pledged by Choppies Botswana. The company has also pledged P1 million for a gold medalist and P2, 500 worth of groceries for a year, while those who win silver will get P500, 000.
Athletes who get bronze medals will receive P250, 000. The men’s 4x400m relay team will share the prize money if they win a medal.Still on Sunday, two other athletes, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi proceeded to the 400m semi-finals, with latter dropping a new PB of 44.45. “Our athletes did their best, especially Tebogo who was in the men’s 100m final, clocking a new PB and NR. It was a good day for us. We are going to shift focus to the 800m men’s race and I will not be surprised if two of them reach the final. At first let us see how they will perform during the heats and semi-finals. We should not talk about final at the current moment because 800m has its own dynamics, there is shoving, tripping and pushing,” he said. Ntshwarang said the three athletes, Tumo Nkape, Tshepiso Masalela and Kethobogile Haingura have prepared well and stand a chance to reach the final.
By the time of going to press, Victor Ntweng in his Olympic debut, finished in position five, failing to qualify for an automatic semi-final qualification, and went on for a second attempt in the repechage round.The government will reward athletes with houses if they win medals at the Olympic Games. Tebogo competed in the 200m heat on Monday evening as his journey in the Olympics continues with possibility of being part of the men’s 4x400m relays team.
