The foundation for Tebogo's victory was laid decades ago by Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks, regarded as the pioneer of African sprinting. Fredericks was a dominant force in his era, winning silver in both the 100m and 200m at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. These achievements set a high standard for African runners, who had never before reached such global heights.

Continuing Fredericks' legacy, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk emerged as another undeniable sprinter. Van Niekerk first made his mark by winning consecutive 400m world titles in 2015 and 2017, and securing a silver medal in the 200m at the World Championships. His crowning achievement came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he broke the world record with a time of 43.03 seconds, becoming only the second African athlete to win Olympic gold in the 400m, nearly a century after Bevil Rudd's victory in 1920.

Africa’s rise in the sprinting world has been a quiet revolution gaining momentum in recent years. While the continent had seen sporadic success in the past, such as South Africa's Reggie Walker winning the 100m title at the 1908 London Olympics, recent advancements have been more common. Countries like South Africa and Botswana are now producing world-class sprinters, including Van Niekerk and Isaac Makwala, who have made significant strides on the global stage.

Van Niekerk, in particular, has continued to push the boundaries, excelling not only in the 400m but also in shorter sprints. He earned a silver medal in the 200m at the 2017 World Championships and holds the unique distinction of being the first man to run sub-10, sub-20, sub-31, and sub-44 times in the 100m, 200m, 300m, and 400m respectively.

In the 100 metres, South Africa's Akani Simbine has consistently been a strong contender. During three consecutive Games (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024), he has come close to securing a medal in each final, as he has also done in the World Championships. His constant proximity to the podium is a clear example of the high level at which African sprinters compete.

African sprinters have recently started making their mark on the all-time lists in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, with Van Niekerk leading the way due to his world record in the one-lap sprint. Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala has also made history, setting a continental record of 9.77 seconds in 2021, ranking him as the ninth fastest man ever.

This brings us to the man of the moment: Letsile Tebogo. The 21-year-old Botswanan sprinter has taken the world by storm since winning medals in both the 100m and 200m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Tebogo first captured global attention when he claimed silver in the 100m, becoming the first African to reach the podium in this event at the World Championships. He followed this with a bronze in the 200m, further establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in athletics.

Tebogo’s meteoric rise began even before his success in Budapest. At just 18, he set an Under-20 world record of 9.96 seconds in Gaborone, Botswana, and later improved this mark to 9.91 seconds to win gold at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

In Paris, Tebogo solidified his status as a global sprinting sensation by winning the 200m Olympic gold in an African record time of 19.46 seconds. His performance, reminiscent of Usain Bolt’s dominance, saw him comfortably defeat a stacked field, including three-time world champion Noah Lyles. Tebogo’s victory was not only a personal triumph but also a landmark moment for African athletics. "It means a lot to the African continent because now they see Africa as a sprinting home," Tebogo remarked after his historic win. "We just had to make sure that the message is loud and clear."

Tebogo also delivered an impressive performance in the 100m final earlier at the Games, finishing sixth with a personal best and national record of 9.86 seconds in one of the closest races in history. Not bad for his first Olympics.

Africa has now produced four Olympic champions in sprint events, starting with Walker in 1908, followed by Rudd, Van Niekerk, and now, Tebogo. The tide is turning for African sprinting, with the continent poised for an exciting future as it continues to challenge the dominance of traditional sprinting powerhouses.