Botswana’s president announced a public holiday on Friday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo’s historic victory in the 200-meter sprint, where he won the country’s first Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games on Thursday.

Tebogo’s remarkable performance saw him surpass American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles, making him the first African to claim the 200-meter title and the fifth-fastest man in history for this distance.

The 21-year-old athlete honored his late mother, who passed away in May, by wearing spikes inscribed with her date of birth, symbolizing that she was with him in spirit during the race.

In a statement shared on X, President Mokgweetsi Masisi expressed his pride, stating, “His Excellency President Masisi wishes to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Letsile and offers his gratitude to his late mother.”

Masisi emphasized that Tebogo’s achievement deserved a nationwide celebration, noting it should be recognized in a unique, fitting, and responsible manner that would be remembered in Botswana’s history.

The president shared his personal excitement, revealing that he had lost his voice from cheering enthusiastically as he watched Tebogo clinch victory with an impressive time of 19.46 seconds