Letsile Tebogo of Botswana electrified the track at the Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday by breaking the world 300m record with a stunning time of 30.69 seconds.
The 20-year-old sensation’s remarkable performance saw him carve more than a tenth of a second off the previous world best of 30.81, set by Wayde van Niekerk in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in 2017. Notably, the previous record was also set in Pretoria by Michael Johnson in 2000, with a time of 30.85.
Tebogo’s dominance was evident from the start as he exploded from the blocks, swiftly seizing control of the race with an impressive lead around the bend. Maintaining his momentum down the home straight, Tebogo extended his advantage, ultimately clinching victory by over a second.
The Botswana sprinter’s stellar performance adds another feather to his cap of accomplishments, having previously set a world U20 100m record of 9.94 at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 2022. He further solidified his reputation by defending his world U20 title in Cali the following month with an improved mark of 9.91.
Tebogo’s prowess extends beyond the 100m distance, as evidenced by his national record of 9.88 in the 100m, secured during last year’s World Championships in Budapest. Additionally, his 200m best of 19.50, achieved in London, stands as the African record.
With a stellar performance in Pretoria, Tebogo has once again asserted himself as one of the brightest stars in global athletics, leaving spectators in awe of his extraordinary talent and potential.
