When you are as good as Letsile Tebogo, then it’s a given that you’ll want to get creative with your sprints. After all, since becoming the 200m champion at the Paris Olympics, Tebogo has been on a generational run. With names like Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek on his list of fallen opponents, there wasn’t much to question Tebogo about. That is, until now. With some major losses in his bag when the season had just started, many questioned Tebogo’s form. This was all the more evident at the Diamond League in Xiamen. So, what happened?

Well, the event was supposed to be Tebogo’s first major appearance in 2025. And although the lineup was stacked, Tebogo was expected to get at least a podium finish. With the likes of Ferdinand Omanyala, Christian Coleman, Akani Simbine, and others competing, Tebogo had quite an underwhelming run. While Akani Simbine picked up the victory, clocking 9.99s, Omanyala (10.13s) and Jeremiah Azu (10.17s) took the second and third positions, respectively.

But what about Tebogo? Well, finishing 7th, the Olympic gold medalist ended with a timing of 10.20s! But now, we do seem to have an explanation as to why that happened. Letsile Tebogo recently appeared at a presser and shed light on his strategies. He mentioned that his team will be going pretty much easy on the initial couple of Diamond Leagues.

This is because Tebogo and his team are still in the process of developing proper speed. “We’re building up our speed with these two Diamond Leagues going into the season because that’s the initial plan, you know,” said Tebogo. The sprinter also stated that he was experimenting by using the basic endurance from 400, along with the speed. 

“Everything is just from there, so we took everything into the 100 and see how we are going to perform,” Tebogo further clarified. According to Tebogo, after his latest Diamond League appearance, he will slowly introduce the speed. And by September of this month, expect Tebogo to go full throttle. So that sums up the apparent poor showing in Xiamen. However, having faltered badly, Tebogo made a huge promise to his fans.

Letsile Tebogo vows powerful comeback for Keqiao after Xiamen

Now it might be true that Xiamen wasn’t where Letsile got to shine, but if you thought he was done, then you’re wrong. With the next Diamond League already scheduled for Keqiao/Shanghai, Letsile will be returning to claim the glory that is rightfully his. But while his determination is off the charts, the odds will be stacked against him. But Letsile is made of a tougher mettle.

In a sport where milliseconds define legacies, Tebogo’s response wasn’t filled with excuses—it was brimming with intent. He admitted candidly, “I hate how I did today.” The weight of disappointment was clear in his voice. But beneath the frustration was a fierce clarity. Tebogo saw the flaws not as failures but as opportunities for recalibration.

“For the weeks ahead, I’m just going to go back for… not training, just to correct a few things that I’ve seen during the race that, really, really are missing,” he explained, underlining how even the smallest technical gaps can shift an entire performance. His words weren’t just a post-race reflection. Rather, they were like a roadmap.

With calm determination, Tebogo’s parting message hinted at redemption already in motion. With a confident smile, he added, “I believe the next one will be more amazing, and it will be great.” For a sprinter who’s never been afraid of pressure, the fire still burns—stronger than ever. So what do you think? Will Letsile redeem himself at Keqiao? Or will it be another African stealing the spotlight again?