Letsile Tebogo

I felt that I’ve completed the mission that I wanted to do when I got into athletics, which was that I wanted to put Africa on the map. That was the first feeling—that I had made it. Now, I know that the country is proud. I believe I’ve touched everybody’s life, looking at what has happened to me.

The drive to be an athlete started at an early age. At first, it was through playing [soccer]. [Even though] I ran cross country in primary school, it wasn’t until 2018 that I started taking sprinting seriously and realized I could do it professionally.

I am driven by the desire to] to show my fellow Botswanan athletes that they can succeed from our home soil. We don’t always have to go into other countries to stand out [in our sport]. I wanted to show them that that we still have the potential here in Botswana. [It was important that I inspire the] talent here on the global stage. Talent has been unearthed all over the [African] continent—now we just need to need to unveil it.

This support helps in several aspects. The diamond industry is helping develop facilities in the country from stadiums to schools to the little sports center we have. This support has helped make sure everybody’s talent can be unearthed.

It was a special experience because I got to work with] award-winning jewelry designer Khumo Makwa, who is also from Botswana. We sat down together, and she gave me her ideas—they were just perfect. I gave myself one day to think through what I truly wanted for the design. I thought, ‘How can I make this resemble a family tree?’ I told her my idea, and we did a few calls together. We came to an agreement to put my mother in front, me, and then the last would be my sister, so it is the three of us pulling each other going forward.

Getting a second gold medal is what’s on top of my mind going into 2025. That’s the dream that’s fueling me. After [I accomplish] that, I’ll have to set another new goal for 2026.

(04:31):
Working on this design with Letsile is quite significant because we used Botswana natural diamonds.

(14:57):
We have these natural diamonds here from the mine, mined by De Beers in collaboration with the Botswana government. And Letsile and I share the same thing. You know, we grew up here in Botswana and we all went to school because of these natural diamonds. So, it's just like family coming together, me, him, and De Beers.

(09:52):
I got inspiration from hand-holding. So if you look at the bracelet on the inside, it's a pentagon shape. It shows the bond. It represents the bond of all the three people.