Year 2025 had been a bit of a head-scratcher for Letsile Tebogo, the incredible sprinter from Botswana. After absolutely lighting up 2024 – remember that Olympic 200m gold and 4x400m silver in Paris? He was consistently running under 20 seconds! – The 21-year-old just hadn’t seemed to find his rhythm this season. He tried the 100m at the first couple of Diamond League meets, but couldn’t pull off a win, finishing seventh in Xiamen on April 26 and third in Keqiao on May 3. It definitely left some fans scratching their heads, wondering if the World Athlete of the Year still had that same magic. Could Doha be the place where things finally clicked?

Turns out, yes! On May 16, 2025, redemption arrived at the Doha Diamond League. Letsile decided to get back to his comfort zone, the 200m, and did he ever deliver! He snagged his first victory of the year, crossing the line in 20.10 seconds. Notably, he didn’t break 20 seconds like he often does, but he didn’t even need to push full-out, easing up a bit at the very end. The best part? He held off a serious charge from American star Courtney Lindsey by the slimmest of margins – just 0.01 seconds! Lindsey finished second in 20.11, with Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia in third. But honestly, everyone was buzzing about Tebogo getting back on top. How did that race shake out?

As FloTrack captured in their post, Tebogo was all smiles, holding a bouquet of flowers and giving a thumbs-up on the track.

😱 OH MY. Letsile Tebogo 🇧🇼 eases up at the line but gets the win in the men’s 200m.

He run’s 20.10 to narrowly hold off Courtney Lindsey 🇺🇸 at the line in Doha. Lindsey goes 20.11 for second.

Joseph Fahnbulleh finishes third.#DohaDL and #DiamondLeague coverage presented by… pic.twitter.com/IL71oVsscL

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) May 16, 2025

It was a battle right from the start. Tebogo was lined up against some serious speed merchants… Tebogo looked smooth coming off the curve, doing that thing he does so well. But down the final straight, Lindsey really came on strong, pushing him all the way. Tebogo just managed to hold him off! You could tell how much it meant to him after the race – that big smile as he walked around with the bouquet, glancing at the crowd. He’d said before the meet that 2024 was tough, but he was “ready to push body to its limits and make every moment count.“ You saw that fight in him right at the finish line.

And here’s where the Doha win felt even sweeter — it wasn’t just any race. Tebogo ended a short but frustrating dry spell, snapping a two-race losing streak in the 100m, and did it by denying one of America’s fastest rising sprinters at the line. What happened to Courtney Lindsey– there’s no denying it would have stung. Lindsey had the momentum and nearly stole it, but Tebogo’s push was just enough. 

What’s next for Letsile Tebogo? Riding the wave after Doha win!

So, after that fantastic 20.10 victory in the 200m at the Doha Diamond League on May 16th, Letsile Tebogo has definitely got track fans buzzing! The 21-year-old Botswanan speedster, who had a stellar 2024 with five Diamond League wins and that cool Jesse Owens Rising Star Award, really reminded everyone he’s a top contender in 2025. That win means he’s now squarely focused on grabbing points for the Diamond League Final – a title he just missed out on last year. His knack for being brilliant in both the 100m and 200m gives him a great shot, but staying consistent will be key with guys like Courtney Lindsey and Kenny Bednarek pushing hard. So, can he keep this winning feeling going at his very next stop?

Good news! That next stop is coming up super fast. Tebogo is confirmed to compete at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Rabat, Morocco, on May 25. It’s going to be a packed event at the Meeting International Mohammed VI, with other big names like Olympic champ Femke Bol joining him, plus stars like Hamish Kerr, Katie Moon, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and Beatrice Chebet. For anyone watching, this meet is a prime chance to see if Tebogo’s Doha performance was the start of something big and if he can rack up more points on the road to the Diamond League Final. Could Rabat be another reason for Africa’s sprinting star to celebrate.