BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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It was a night of triumph at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco, as Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan were crowned Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Both athletes delivered remarkable performances at the Paris Olympics, leaving a lasting impact on the global sports community.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo made history as the nation’s first Olympic champion, clinching gold in the 200m with a record-breaking time of 19.46 seconds.
The 21-year-old also contributed to Botswana’s silver win in the men’s 4x400m relay.
Throughout the season, Tebogo consistently clocked sub-20-second finishes in the 200m—an impressive nine times.
In his speech, Tebogo expressed his gratitude and surprise:
“It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes. It was a great year and this means a lot. It’s not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent. It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn’t expect this.”
Meanwhile, Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan set new benchmarks by earning medals in the 5000m, 10,000m, and marathon events at the Paris Games, a feat never before achieved by a female athlete. She claimed bronze in the 5000m and 10,000m before securing gold in the marathon, solidifying her place among long-distance running legends.
Hassan reflected on the honor in her speech:
“Since I was young, I watched marathon runners with admiration. They made me wonder if I could run like them, or if I could even finish a marathon. I used to wonder if I could even race 10km.
This year, my curiosity pushed me to take a risk and compete in three distances at the Paris Olympics. It was terrifying, and that made each finish line more meaningful. It wasn’t perfect, but sometimes happiness comes from embracing imperfections. I’m so grateful to see the journey being valued and recognized so highly.
This award isn’t just for me, my team, and my family. It’s for every young girl out there, watching, dreaming, and believing that she can achieve greatness through sport.
To all of you, I want to say: keep exercising, keep training, keep pushing, keep believing, and always remember that no dream is too big.”
The achievements of both athletes serve as a powerful source of inspiration, celebrating dedication, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence.
