Three years after announcing himself on the world stage in Budapest, Letsile Tebogo returns to the Hungarian capital as an Olympic champion, carrying with him memories of a city that holds a special place in his journey.
Tebogo will compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship from 11 to 13 September 2026, returning to the same track where his international breakthrough began in 2023.
At just 20, Tebogo stunned the athletics world by winning silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m at the World Championships. Proudly watching from the stands was his now late mother, Seratiwa, who had travelled to Budapest to support her son.
It was a defining moment for both of them as Tebogo took his place among the world's best sprinters.
Three years on, much has changed.
Tebogo returns as an Olympic 200m champion, but this time without his mother beside him. Seratiwa died in May 2024.
Her absence will undoubtedly make the return to Budapest different, but the city remains tied to some of the most cherished memories of Tebogo's rise.
Now, he has an opportunity to create another memorable chapter.
Tebogo will face some of the world's leading athletes at the Ultimate Championship, with the 200m final scheduled for Sunday, 13 September.
Budapest is therefore more than just another destination on Tebogo's calendar. It is where his journey to the top gained momentum and where he now returns, three years later, as a champion.
