Botswana’s sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo is gearing up for a crucial 200m showdown at the Diamond League meeting in Doha, marking his second outing in the event this season.
The Olympic champion, who has already tested his speed in the 100m and endurance in the 400m this year, is determined to bounce back after a mixed start to his 2025 campaign.
A Season of Adjustments
Tebogo revealed his ambitious plans at a pre-race press conference in Doha, confirming his intention to double up in the 100m and 200m this season.
“So far, that’s the plan, to flip-flop between the two events,” Tebogo said.
“I believe we still have much time to work on both. For the Paris Olympics, it wasn’t easy because my mama had passed away. I had to cut down a few weeks of training, so we focused on what we knew best. Even if we missed the 100m, we made sure to bring something in the 200m. Now, we have time to improve on the medal we got in Budapest.”
The 21-year-old has had a busy season, racing across multiple continents. After a sluggish 10.20s (7th place) in the Diamond League opener in Xiamen, he improved to 10.03s for third in Shanghai/Keqiao. Now, he returns to his stronger event—the 200m—where he holds a personal best of 19.46s, making him the fifth-fastest man in history.
Facing Tough Competition
Tebogo will line up against a strong field in Doha, including Olympic medalists Aaron Brown (Canada) and Filippo Tortu (Italy). However, the biggest threat may come from American Courtney Lindsey, who defeated Tebogo in a thrilling head-to-head in Nairobi last April (both clocked 19.71s into a -1.5 headwind).
Lindsey, despite his early-season prowess, finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year, making Tebogo the clear favorite. Yet, with Tebogo’s current season best at 20.23s, well off his peak, questions linger about whether he can rediscover his dominant form.
Olympic Hangover or Strategic Build-Up?
Comparisons to last season show a slight dip in form. In 2024, Tebogo had season bests of 10.13s (100m), 19.71w (200m), and 44.29s (400m). This year, his marks stand at 10.03s, 20.23s, and 45.26s, suggesting either an Olympic hangover or a deliberate heavy training phase.
Tebogo’s relentless schedule, nine races across five countries and three continents, raises questions about his endurance. Despite his versatility, he has yet to commit to any Grand Slam Track events, sticking instead to the Diamond League circuit. After Doha, he’s set to race the 200m in Rabat on May 25.
What’s at Stake?
With only three wins in eight races this year, Tebogo needs a statement performance in Doha to silence doubters. A sub-20-second run would reaffirm his status as a global sprint force ahead of the World Championships.
Given his history, a 100m silver at the 2023 Worlds and an Olympic 4x400m relay silver, Tebogo knows how to deliver when it matters. Now, as he fine-tunes his double-event strategy, all eyes are on whether he can turn his season around starting in Doha.
