Botswana declared a national holiday to celebrate the return of sprinter Letsile Tebogo, who won the men’s 200m gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first African to achieve this feat. The country also secured a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay, bringing its total Olympic medal count to four.
American sprinter Gabby Thomas secured Olympic 200m gold with a dominant performance, denying Julien Alfred a sprint double. Thomas, who previously won bronze in Tokyo and silver in last year’s world championships, crossed the finish line in 21.83 seconds. Alfred, who won Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal in the 100m, took silver in 22.08 seconds.
Noah Lyles, fresh off his 100m gold medal victory, began his quest for the prestigious Olympic sprint double by easily winning his 200m heat in 20.19 seconds. The American sprinter, known for his dominance over the longer distance, is aiming for a potential four gold medals in Paris, emulating the achievements of legendary athletes Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis.
Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson, a top contender for the 200m Olympic title, pulled up with an apparent injury during the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix. The incident raises concerns for Jackson’s participation in the upcoming Paris Games, especially with fellow Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah already sidelined with an Achilles injury.
