The ‘Gods’ of athletics punished Tebogo in the 200

After his exhibition in 100, the botswano was left without a ‘double’ for the second time in a row in the U20 World Cup

After his defiant attitude towards rivals after winning the 100, Tebogo lost the gold in 200 by six thousandths (19.96)

Definitely, one of the proper names of athletics in 2022 is Letsile Tebogo. The athlete from Botswana was the big surprise at the World Championships in Eugene a couple of weeks ago with his colossal 9.94 in 100m at just 19 years old and now at the U20 World Championships in Cali he has taken another step forward.

However, as happened last year in Nairobi he has left with honey on his lips in his desire to become the fourth athlete in history to achieve the ‘double’ in the 100 and 200 smooth at a U20 World Cup after the burly Trinidadian Ato Boldon in Seoul ’92, the Lusonigerian Francis Obikwelu competing under the flag of his country of birth in Sidney’96 and the British Christian Malcolm in Annecy’98. Not even the legendary Usain Bolt got it.

Last year in Kenyan lands, Tebogo reigned in the 100 meters with only 18 years and a time of 10.19, ahead of the South African Benjamin Richardson (10.28), but he was not a favorite in the double hectometer and finished second with 20.38 after the best of the year, the Nigerian Udodi Onwuruzike (20.21).

A year older, the African sprinter appeared in Cali as one of the stars of the competition and fulfilled all predictions with a sensational victory in 100 meters with 9.91breaking his sub’20 world record and clearly beating Jamaican Bouwahjgie Nkrumie (10.02) and South African Richardson (10.12).

However, his somewhat cocky attitude stirred up the most purists while comparisons with Usain Bolt, who already broke molds as a junior, multiplied. The Botswanan turned to his rivals and pointed the finger at the Caribbean “imitating Bolt”he commented to justify himself.

Well, those forces and that extra adrenaline that he spent on the last straight to keep running while laughing at his rivals they have missed him in the early hours of this Friday to hang his second gold and it has also been in the most painful way possible.

In his sixth and final race in Cali (he did not run the short relay an hour earlier and his country was disqualified), Tebogo made a great curve and was a couple of meters ahead of Blessing Akawasi Afrifahborn in Israel of African parents and who can finally compete for his country.

Tebogo was hit by the drop in speed and He ended up biting the dust for only six thousandths with 19.96, the same time that I top Afrifah with the Australian Caleb Labb bronze to an eternity with 20.48 in a podium without Americans (Brandon Miller was fifth with 20.64) or Jamaicans (Bryan Lewell was sixth with 20.72).