Letsile Tebogo takes comfort in the music of his home during the hours before he coils himself into the starting blocks, a moment when many sprinters would be overcome with anxiety and strain. “Most of the time, I just listen to music – traditional songs from here in Botswana because they remind me of my roots and where I come from,” says Tebogo. “It’s much easier for me to relax that way.”
It seems like his pre-race ritual helps him. The 19-year-old is a picture of calmness even when racing on an athletics track; his long, floating stride and effortless running technique has helped him set records on the juvenile circuit. Tebogo twice this year broke the Under-20 world record for the 100-meter sprint. The first time was at the World Championships when he ran 9.94 seconds, and the second time was at the U20 World Championships a few weeks later when he ran 9.91 seconds.
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On September 20, World Athletics formally ratified his first record, but his second time has not yet been ratified. One of the keys to both performances, according to Tebogo, was the capacity to set aside any remaining concerns prior to entering the race.
“Mental strength is very important,” he tells CNN Sport. “You just need to come with a free mind and enjoy the race because, once you have stress, you cannot run the perfect race you and your coach planned. “You need to come free-minded … Remove everything that’s on your mind that’s going to be disturbing you on the blocks or when you’re doing your warmup.”
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Tebogo's dominant performance at the U20 World Championships this year in Cali, Colombia, cemented his status as one of the most promising prospects in track and field. This was in part due to the ease with which he seemed to pull away from his rivals and the premature celebrations he engaged in 30 meters from the finish line. Tebogo quickly became the buzz of the sports world as he pointed to his right side and grinned.
“I just decided to do that in the moment when I was running,” he says. “I wanted it to be a memorable race for me as I leave the juniors. “I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone on the track … You have to do something for those who are staying up at night to watch you – something to talk about tomorrow or in the near future.”
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The celebration drew comparisons to the legendary Usain Bolt, who would beam and spread his arms as he crossed the finish line while shattering world records, exuding confidence and swagger. Because of how prominent a role the Jamaican still plays in athletics, spectators frequently compare rising sprint stars to the Jamaican. Tebogo, though, acknowledges that he hasn't even considered trying to top his hero's world records, which stand at 9.58 for the 100-meter sprint and 19.19 for the 200-meter sprint.
The teenage sprinter hopes to one day meet Bolt, perhaps at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, but for the time being, he can take comfort in knowing that Bolt has watched him compete and tweeted about it. “His times are very fast,” says Tebogo. “It requires that one should be mentally strong and everything should be in top shape, everything should be top-notch.”