Letsile Tebogo, a track star from Botswana—a country with a population of over 2.5 million—has become a synonymous name with excellence in athletics. Tebogo left his mark on history during the 2024 Olympic Games, becoming the first athlete to win gold for Botswana and setting an African record by finishing the 200-meter race in 19.56 seconds.

As if that weren’t enough, Tebogo was recognized as the 2024 World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year in December of that year. In 2025, the Botswana track star is likewise blazing. And behind Letsile’s dominance on the track, there is a force of love and support from none other than his parents. Let’s meet Letsile Tebogo’s parents.

Meet Letsile Tebogo’s parents

Letsile Tebogo grew up with his deceased mother, Seratiwa Tebogo, who was very instrumental in his life and athletic career. Seratiwa, a mother of two, did everything by herself to support and develop Letsile’s talent, urging him into sports but not academically pressurizing him once she saw his potential. No details about Letsile Tebogo’s father are present in the public domain, but his mother’s love will always be with him.

Sharing a memory with “The Voice BW,” after the World Athletics Relays in 2024, Seratiwa said, “Letsile has always been a hyperactive child. I’d be chopping veggies, and he’d be hiding under the table, picking them, and then eating them raw.” Seratiwa, a single mother, used to be an athlete before becoming a secretary.

While Letsile Tebogo’s mother was asked about the relationship with his son and what sacrifices she had to make as a mother, Seratiwa Tebogo explained, “Putting my interests on hold and emptying my savings just to be with him… Note that our relationship is more than that of mother and son; we are more like brother and sister now, more so because, for the longest time, it was just me and him; his sister is nine years younger than him.” But Tebogo wasn’t lucky enough to get his mother’s love for long, as she passed away a few days after she saw him on track at the World Athletics.

Letsile Tebogo’s Olympic triumph and tribute to his mother 

The 21-year-old Olympic champion was very close to his mother, as mentioned earlier. He was devastated by the news of his mother’s demise a few months before the 2024 Olympics. But the Botswana star gathered himself and showed his resilience with not one but two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. And he gave tribute to his late mother, and how? After winning the gold in the 200 m, he held up his spikes to the camera, showing his mother’s date of birth written on them. The question might loom, why date of birth? Per Reuters, Letsile said, “I didn’t want to put the date of her death, because I’ll get emotional.” Indeed, it is a huge loss for him, or any child, but Letsile Tebogo came out of it stronger.

Before going for his race, Letsile spoke about the impact that he had because of his mother’s passing. He said, “I’ve had such a huge blow that affected me deeply so I’m still trying to get the confidence back into my body.” Tebogo further added, “It’s not about injuries; it is all about my mom.” Remembering his mother, 21-year-old Botswana star expressed his feelings: “I believe she could be one of the happiest people on the planet because she believed in me and I had so much doubt in myself.” His voice trembled with emotion as Letsile Tebogo paid tribute to her mother and her unwavering faith in his journey.

What is Letsile Tebogo’s parents’ nationality?

Letsile Tebogo belongs to Kanye, which is a village in southern Botswana. Though there is no information available about his father, her mother also holds Botswanan nationality. Hence, we can say that their nationality is Botswana.