Letsile Tebogo: American Sprint Legend Predicts Big Year for Botswana Sprinter

• Letsile Tebogo has broken another world record
• The Botswana sprinter broke the 300m world record
• Justin Gatlin expects big things from the youngster in 2024

Last weekend Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo shattered the world 300m world record in South Africa.

Olympic champion Justin Gatlin was in awe of Twebogo's outstanding achievement and believes the 20-year-old is destined for greatness this year.

The world 100m silver medallist clocked 30.69 to break the record held by South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk at the Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out in Pretoria, South Africa, on February 17.

Tebogo also passed the record set by sprint icons Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson.

The Botswana sprinter dominated the race from start to finish to send a message to his opponents ahead of a busy 2024 season.

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Tebogo also holds the African 200m record of 19.50, set in Londo last year, per World Athletics.

Justin Gatlin on Tebogo

The Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion was impressed by Tebogo's performance and highlighted his maturity. He predicted that Tebogo will dominate the 200m.

"Shout out to Tebogo, man to run that time, and we've seen him run a 300 before about a year ago back," Gatilin said via his Instagram.

"It's going to turn the 200 world upside down because now you have someone who's maturing into his events. He's showing that he can; he's a championship calibre athlete, and looking at what he looks like now, he looks a little bigger, he looks a little stronger, especially up top."

Gatlin sent a warning to other sprinters ahead of the busy season.

"There's a lot of people who've been waiting in line to get that gold medal and get that silver medal and that bronze and get on that top of that podium. I think y'all need to double down on your training because Tebogo is coming."

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Noah Lyles is currently the world champion in the 100m and the 200m, so Tebogo has his target.

Letsile Tebogo makes history

In August 2023, Tebogo became the first African to win a men's 100m medal at the World Athletics Championships, as Sports Brief reported earlier.

The 19-year-old sprinter clocked 9.99 seconds in a sensational race won by America's Noah Lyles, who promised gold in the final and delivered in a time of 9.83 seconds.

He also holds the African record in the 200m, which he broke in the 2023 London Diamond League in July 2023.