Letsile Tebogo had become a rising star in the track and field world, turning heads with each performance. However, the presence he cherished most was that of his mother, Seratiwa, cheering him on from the stands. Tragically, she passed away on May 19 after a brief illness. Despite Tebogo’s calm demeanor, he has been grappling with the loss. The grief nearly caused him to walk away from the sport altogether after a heartbreaking defeat.
Still mourning, Tebogo shared a black-and-white photo of him and his mother, accompanied by a deeply emotional message: “The day I lost you, I also lost me.” Tebogo wasn’t with his mother when she passed, as he was training in Italy for the Eugene Diamond League. News of her death reached him through the internet, hitting the 21-year-old hard. He continued, “I’ve been trying to find myself again, but it’s hard. It’s hard because you were a huge part of my life.”
Seratiwa, a former athlete herself, had helped foster Tebogo’s interest in track from an early age. Their shared passion for the sport created a bond that was difficult to break. “Not having you here is so painful. I’m just not me anymore,” Tebogo confessed. She had been present for most of his competitions, so her absence at the Stade de France during the Olympics was particularly hard for him.
Despite his pain, Tebogo found a way to honor his mother. During the 200m final on August 8, Tebogo had his sights set on Olympic gold. With a record-breaking African time of 19.46 seconds, he secured his first Olympic title. After the race, he paid tribute to his mother by removing his shoe and holding it up to the camera. The shoe was inscribed with “23-12-1980,” his mother’s birth date, in a touching gesture.
Though he achieved Olympic glory, Tebogo nearly didn’t make it to the Paris Summer Games. In a post-race press conference, he reflected on his initial reaction to his mother’s passing: “When I first heard the news, I thought my career was over. I started to find ways of forgetting about athletics.” The loss shattered his confidence, but he found the strength to push through and make it to the finals, all driven by the support his mother had given him throughout his career.
Seratiwa had always been a steady presence, helping her son rise through the ranks. She attended many of his local races and even watched him win silver in the 200m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, making him the first African to achieve that feat. Sadly, she wasn’t there to witness his historic gold medal win in Paris. When asked how proud his mother would be, Tebogo didn’t hesitate: “I believe she could be one of the happiest people on the planet because she believed in me, and I had so much doubt for myself.”
Though Tebogo continues to feel lost without his mother, her words still guide him: “If you don’t see the results tomorrow, don’t give up; just keep on pushing; you’ll get it one day.” On August 8, Tebogo reaped the rewards of his perseverance, and he continues to inspire the track and field world with his performances.
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