Botswana has declared a half-day public holiday to celebrate its first-ever Olympic gold medal following athlete Letsile Tebogo’s victory.

The gold medal was won at the men’s 200-metre sprint final at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics.

Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced to the nation that he has found it a fitting tribute to Tebogo, “Botswana’s Sensation,” to grant Botswana and its residents an afternoon off on this very day.

The president’s permanent secretary, Emmah Peloetletse, said this in a statement released on Friday.

The decision was made to recognise and honour Tebogo, who has become the first African to win a gold medal in the 200-metre event in Olympic history.

The statement described Tebogo’s performance and achievement as “markedly outstanding and deserving of the nation to celebrate him in a most unique and responsible manner that will be etched in the history of the country.”

The 21-year-old athlete secured Botswana’s first gold medal of the Paris Olympics by completing the 200-metre sprint in 19.46 seconds on Thursday.

This marks Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal, following its first-ever Olympic medal in 2012, when Nigel Amos won silver in the 800m, and the men’s 4×400 relay squad won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

(Xinhua/NAN)