Letsile Tebogo

"Without sport I believe I’d also be behind bars because that was the only way we knew of."

"We believed that football was the only way to survive."

"Running a new world record was not the plan, but it just came naturally."

"I was scared, I didn’t know what to expect. Nobody knew who Letsile was back in 2023."

"That transition was what I’d been dreaming of since I started athletics—that was the validation of the potential I didn’t see growing up."

"I felt like it was over for me—it was over for athletics. I just needed to hand in the boots. I didn’t have the confidence to go out there and do what I have to do."

"There’s a lot of pain that is inside that needs to go out, and the only way I can do that is through running."

"I’ll always carry her as an inspiration—it’s not every day that you get a supportive parent behind your back in every decision that you make. She was able to show us the right path."

"If I don’t stumble, I can win this race."

"That 19 seconds felt so peaceful."

"The moment you talk about the world record is the moment you mess up your training programme."

"Without sports in my life, I don’t even want to think where I would be."

"I’m happy sport came in because there are a lot of youngsters who I know now are behind bars. Those are the same people that I used to hang around with."

"The Olympic gold, it means a lot to the country, it means a lot to the African continent, because Africa is no longer known for the long-distance races."

"It’s a reminder that you carry more than just a flag when you compete abroad, you carry the dreams of the people you grew up with and the pride of your countrymen watching you at home."

"The value that shaped me is Botho."

"Botho means never to undermine anyone, just do your thing and learn how to congratulate others if they've done better than you on the day."

"The children that I inspire across the world, sometimes are less privileged and cannot do sports because of their situations."

"I’m just an ordinary person."

"Only when I get on to the track, I become somebody different."

"I dream of an all-African lineup at the Olympics one day."

"All I can say is that Botswana will take care of a gem perfectly, more than the US can."

"What I'm most excited about, though, is the impact I have made on aspiring athletes."

"I have proved that by staying on the right track and working hard, it is possible to achieve your dreams no matter which part of the world you're from."

"Wherever you are, whatever you have, just make sure you put in enough effort and dedication."

"It's different in every country. When you get to my country, they understand, they know and they feel when to just let me be."

"Africans are stepping up and we see an increased number of African athletes in global competitions."

"That's always been my goal, to snap their dominance."

"It was sad to see only two nations rule the sport for decades."

"I wanted to make a breakthrough for African athletes."

"I aspired to be the one to make it happen and then take in the world's response. And that reaction has been heartwarming."

"Athletics has given me so many opportunities, and I want young people to believe in themselves, dream big and enjoy the sport."

"It's basically showing them direction, because if we have plenty of free time, we tend to do unlawful stuff."

"I go to the flashbacks that I came from here and now I'm a global star."

"You just have to capitalise on the little you have and make sure you pursue your goals."

"The Olympic gold has opened a lot of doors for the team, because I can't do this alone."

"When you get on to the track, it's all about business."

"When we finish, we become friends and then life goes on."

"This is a dream come true, not just for me, but for all of Botswana. We've shown the world what we're capable of, and this is just the beginning."

"The support has been overwhelming. I believe this has changed my life and also impacted many lives in my home country."

""I’ll probably rent out those two houses because I’m not leaving my mother’s place!"

"I’ve had such a huge blow that affected me deeply, so I’m still trying to get the confidence back into the body. It’s not about injuries; it is all about my mum."

"I now have multiple opportunities to support myself as multiple brands want to be associated with my name."

"I like having an element of mystery and want to leave people wondering: where is he, what’s he doing?"

"Once the governments are on board, it makes a massive difference to the sport."

"Africans can be sprinters, too."

"I always think about her but I just try not to let it get into me that much and then just block it out and move forward."

"I believe there is a medal in these legs and it only needs the determination and the willpower to do it."

"If somebody took it as disrespect, I'm really sorry."

"I used to train without shoes."