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Tebogo has admitted to the strategic gamble he made in the final of the 4 by 400m relay that counted against Botswana in the end as the USA ended up clinching the medal.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has candidly admitted to making a tactical error that cost his team gold in the 4x400m relay final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Tebogo, the reigning 200m champion, was anchoring the relay team in a thrilling last-leg showdown against the United States' Rai Benjamin, which saw Botswana secure silver with a new African record.
The United States continued their dominance in the Olympic 4x400m relay on Saturday, but the victory was hard-fought. Rai Benjamin, known for his exceptional speed endurance in the 400m hurdles, managed to hold off Tebogo in a dramatic final stretch.
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Despite Tebogo’s valiant effort to close the gap, Benjamin's strength proved decisive, leading the U.S. to victory with an Olympic record time of 2:54.43. Botswana finished just behind with a time of 2:54.53, while Great Britain claimed bronze in a European record time of 2:55.83.
Tebogo, who was brought in at the last minute to run the first leg for Botswana in the heats, reflected on his race strategy after the event.
“I knew Ray had the 400 meters hurdles strength in him. I only have the 200 meter strength so I knew the back stretch was going to be a fast one so I had to chase and close the gap and see if we would have that last kick for the homestretch but it never came out because I used too much energy for the homestretch,” Tebogo admitted.
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Despite the tactical misstep, Tebogo expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, saying, “For me it was a great race having to chase and considering the fact I haven’t had enough rest and we did what we did today, so I am happy.”
Botswana's impressive performance in the relay has raised questions about the country’s rise to prominence in the 4x400m event.
When asked whether a specific training program had been implemented to develop the nation’s sprinters, Tebogo revealed an unexpected truth.
“There is no specific programme put down for the relays. We train with three of the four guys on the 4 by 4 and then there is Colen who is with a coach cheaper, that is where he is,” he explained.
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“When we come together, it is one thing, we just stick to one programme then over there, there is a little bit of a difference but no specific programme so when we meet, we become one.”
Botswana’s silver medal in the 4x400m relay is a testament to the team’s resilience and unity, even without a dedicated relay training program.
Tebogo’s candid reflections highlight the fine margins that define success at the highest level of competition and underscore the team's potential for future success on the global stage.
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