Tebogo is due to compete in the 100m of the Golden Gala Rome Diamond League Meet later today. The star runner, whose stoke has been on the rise since his golden moment at the Olympics, said the Pope complimented him and in Italian said "Congratulazioni giovanotto" meaning "Congratulations young man". Tebogo said his manager informed him after the Olympics that they were going to meet the Pope in Rome. The athlete, together with his coach, Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane met the Pope this week. “He signed my spikes but they are not the same ones I used when I won the 200m Olympic Gold medal. They are a replica. They are small in size so I will not be using them. They are going to be displayed at the Rosa Associates offices,” Tebogo said.
Rosa Associates are Tebogo's managers. Tebogo has been in the spotlight since his strong 200m run where he beat Americans, Kenneth Bednarek and Noah Lyles to win the gold, setting a new African Record of 19.46. It was Botswana's first ever Olympic gold medal. After his victory, Tebogo held up to the cameras his spikes, which were engraved with his late mother’s date of birth. Ever since winning the Olympic gold medal, Tebogo has been in good form as he has won two consecutive races in the Diamond League series. He even set a Meet Record in Silesia, Poland of 19.83. During the race, Tebogo came from behind to win by a whisker, beating Bednarek and Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic.
Tebogo will continue his surge as he goes head-to-head against Kishane Thompson (Jamaica) and Fred Kerley (United States of America) in the men’s 100m at the Wanda Diamond League Meet in Rome. He will be eyeing victory in the 100m in order to collect maximum points. He is a favourite to win the 200m Diamond League title which comes with a Diamond trophy and cash prize amounting to around P400,000. It will not be an easy 100m race tonight as other contestants, Christian Coleman (USA), Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya), Ackeem Blake (Jamaica), and Japan's Abdul Hakam Sani Brown complete the lineup. Tebogo is joined by fellow 4x400m relay Olympics silver medallists, Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori at the Rome Meet. The two one-lap specialists are in the men’s 400m top 10. Before the Rome Meet, Ndori was in position five with 15 points and Kebinatshipi was placed in position seven with 11 points.
