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Tebogo has made a shocking revelation with regards to his off-season weight plans once the Diamond League season concludes in September.
Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo has stunned the athletics world with a surprising revelation regarding his post-season plans.
As the Diamond League season draws to a close in September, Tebogo, who has had a remarkable year, is planning to indulge in junk food and intentionally gain weight as part of his preparation for the next competitive season.
Tebogo's choice of diet has been a subject of fascination, especially after a season that saw him not only become the world champion in the 200 meters but also break the 300 meters world record in February and secure a silver medal in the 4x400m relay with the Botswana team at the Paris Olympics.
Tebogo’s shocking revelation involves not only indulging in more junk food but also intentionally gaining weight. His goal is to add about five kilograms to his frame as he prepares for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next season.
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11:00 - 14.08.2024
Letsile Tebogo: What Botswana's sprint sensation eats that sets him apart from Noah Lyles
Botswana's Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo credits his success to a unique, tradition-rooted diet inspired by his late mother.
This weight gain, he believes, will help him learn how to cope with carrying extra weight while still competing at an elite level.
“The body still feels a little bit rusty, but at the end of the day, you have to keep it running and rolling because, when you close the season, that is when you start thinking about gaining weight,” Tebogo told Citius Mag after his race in Lausanne.
“After Paris, we decided to try and stick to the diet even though it was hard seeing a lot of people eating whatever they want. I would just sneak out and get something unhealthy to eat so that the body would be happy because those things taste better to me,” Tebogo admitted.
He added, “Not too much weight, about five kgs more, so that I can learn to carry the body throughout it all.”
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06:30 - 23.08.2024
Letsile Tebogo lists one condition he needs fulfilled before adding 400m to his repertoire
Tebogo helped Botswana clinch silver in the 4 by 400m relay at the Olympic games, but has yet to officially compete in an individual 400m event at a major championship.
The diet behind Tebogo’s success
Tebogo's adherence to a diet rooted in traditional foods stands in stark contrast to the high-protein, carefully measured diets favored by many Western athletes. Sorghum, the primary ingredient in mabele, is a nutrient-rich grain that provides sustained energy—a vital component for sprinters who rely on short, intense bursts of speed.
This diet, combined with a disciplined reduction in junk food, has been instrumental in Tebogo’s rapid rise to the top of the sprinting world.
However, after securing his 200-meter victory at the Lausanne Diamond League classic, his first event since the Olympics, Tebogo has revealed a surprising new approach for the off-season.
While many of his competitors, including Noah Lyles, adhere to meticulously planned, high-tech diets, Tebogo's culinary choices are rooted in the simple, organic foods that reflect his deep connection to his cultural heritage.
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19:30 - 23.08.2024
'What has he done to deserve it?' - Why Noah Lyles will not put up his Olympic gold medal in prospective challenge against Tyreek Hill
Lyles has dismissed the idea of betting on his gold medals as well as Hill's NFL rings, citing he is "not interested" as the war of words between the two over who is faster continue.
His late mother, Seratiwa, played a crucial role in shaping his diet, ensuring that despite his love for junk food, he maintained a diet rich in Botswana's traditional staple foods, particularly mabele—a sorghum porridge that is a mainstay in the country’s cuisine.
"He likes junk food, but because of the status that he's in, he has really reduced so much of it. He's mostly trained to go on our staple organic foods like mabele," Seratiwa shared in an interview with the BBC before her untimely passing in May.
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