Tebogo Storms to 19.84 SB in Oslo 200m Victory, Urges Gout Gout to Stay Patient
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo produced a season’s best of 19.84 seconds to win the men’s 200m at the Oslo Diamond League, showcasing both tactical precision and explosive finishing speed.
Reflecting on his performance, Tebogo explained how he approached the race differently compared to his outing in Rabat.
‘Today, we tried to do it differently. I was about to run the proper curve, because in Rabat, we did not run it. I just knew I had that last gear to push in and get under 20. So today, I wanted to run the curve, roll out into the home straight, and in the last 50m just let the legs run towards the line,’ he said.
Tebogo rated his effort highly, noting: ‘I believe I was almost 100%. I will give it 98% to this race. We get better in every race.’
The 20-year-old also shared his thoughts on rising star Gout Gout, who has been making headlines despite his youth.
‘First and foremost, he should not get comfortable racing with the seniors. He still has a long way to go. He should by all means play with his age mates where he is a bit more comfortable, because the more he runs, the more he pushes, and the more injuries he is going to get. I hope his management, the coaches and everybody around him will advise that, because that is what worked for me.’
Tebogo highlighted his own journey as a cautionary example, recalling how many of his peers struggled when stepping up too early.
‘I have seen a lot of people my age racing with seniors and then it did not go well for them. I believe I am the only one who is still standing from Kenya through Cali until now and running with the seniors.’
