Letsile Tebogo points out mistake most coaches make that prevent junior athletes from finding success a senior level…
Tebogo, who himself successfully made the leap after the 2022 World U20 Championships, offered advice to coaches on how to help young athletes reach their full potential.
Letsile Tebogo, a sprint sensation from Botswana, has provided insight into the reasons behind junior athletes’ struggles in making the move to the senior level and has advised younger athletes on ways to support these rising stars in realizing their full potential.
Tebogo, who himself successfully made the leap after the 2022 World U20 Championships, offered advice to coaches on how to help young athletes reach their full potential.
Tebogo, a standout performer at the 2022 World U20 Championships where he set a world junior record of 9.91 seconds in the 100 meters, has been one of the few to thrive at the senior level. Since making his senior debut in 2023, the 21-year-old has already claimed five major medals, including his recent Olympic triumph.
Reflecting on the difficulty of transitioning, Tebogo noted the stark reality many junior athletes face.
“It has always been the goal to transition very well from junior to senior, but what I have noticed now is that a lot of junior coaches cannot transition their athletes,” he remarked.
Speaking after his second-place finish in the 200 meters at the Diamond League final in Brussels, Tebogo highlighted the fact that only a handful of his fellow competitors from the 2022 U20 Championships made it to the Paris Olympics.
“Of the lineup I competed against in the 100-meter final two years ago, I was the only one that actually made it to the Olympics,” he revealed, pointing out that even Jamaican sprinter Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, who was a top contender, didn’t qualify.
Tebogo stressed that young athletes from recent U20 championships, like those who competed in Lima, must be nurtured carefully to ensure their success at the senior level.
“There is true potential in the junior athletes category, and I have seen in Lima a lot of talent, but now I hope to see them transitioning to the senior level,” he said.
He also identified a common mistake made by coaches—pushing young athletes towards perfection too soon. According to Tebogo, this pressure often results in them failing to reach their potential.
 “A little advice I have for the coaches is, do not rush everything to perfection. Let them grow bit by bit, and then they will get where you want them to be,” Tebogo advised.
As one of the few junior athletes to successfully transition, Tebogo’s insights carry significant weight, offering a roadmap for coaches to help the next generation of talent reach the highest levels of the sport.
As one of the few junior athletes to successfully transition, Tebogo’s insights carry significant weight, offering a roadmap for coaches to help the next generation of talent reach the highest levels of the sport.
