Botswana sprint star Lestile Tebogo has revealed the mental and physical challenges he faced during the 2025 season after narrowly missing out on a medal in the men’s 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The Olympic 200m champion finished fourth in a season’s best of 19.65 seconds, just outside the podium places. The race was dominated by American Noah Lyles, who stormed to victory in 19.52 seconds to claim a record-equalling fourth consecutive world title.
For Tebogo, the night carried a bittersweet feeling. While he fell short of defending his Olympic success, he said the year was more about perseverance than results.
Mental Reset After Olympic Glory
Tebogo admitted that life after his historic Olympic gold at the age of 21 came with unexpected pressures. “Last year’s performance was incredible, and to come out here and try to do it again was quite a struggle,” he reflected. “Achieving Olympic gold so young left me asking myself, what’s next?”
The young sprinter confessed he even thought about skipping the 2025 season altogether to recover mentally. However, his coach encouraged him to push through, warning that too much time away from competition could make it harder to stay motivated.
Fighting Through Setbacks
The season was far from smooth. Tebogo revealed he began the year heavier than usual, and cutting down weight placed additional stress on his body. From the opening Diamond League races in China, he was hampered by tight tendons behind his leg, an issue that lingered throughout the campaign.
Despite the challenges, he still managed to reach both sprint finals, something he considers an achievement in itself. “Honestly, just being here feels like a win by itself. Making it to both finals, despite missing weeks and months of training and struggling with motivation, is something I’m proud of,” he said.
Optimism for the Future
Although disappointed to miss out on a medal in Tokyo, Tebogo views the experience as a stepping stone for future success. He believes enduring the mental and physical hurdles of this season has built his resilience.
“Considering everything the missed training, the injuries, and the mental battle just making it here and competing is something I consider a big victory,” he concluded.
Tebogo now looks ahead to the next season with renewed focus, determined to return stronger and reclaim his place among the top sprinters in the world.
