Letsile Tebogo started pounding the “Botswana” on his jersey in celebration before even crossing the finish line. He had stunned the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the 200m and earning the gold medal over heavy favorite Noah Lyles of the United States.

Tebogo made all sorts of history by beating Lyles, who settled for the bronze medal, and silver medalist Kenny Bednarek. But for track and field enthusiasts, Tebogo's emergence wasn’t completely unexpected.

He has been a rising star for a few years, even drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt prior to his introduction to an international audience on Thursday. He also beat Lyles Wednesday in the 200m semifinals – the first race Lyles had lost in the 200m since the Tokyo Olympics – in a precursor to what Tebogo pulled off in the final.

Here’s what else you should know about Tebogo now that he’s known for dethroning Lyles in his signature event:

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How old is Letsile Tebogo?

Tebogo turned 21 years old on June 7.

Where is Letsile Tebogo from?

Tebogo was born in Kanye, Botswana, a village in the southern portion of the country. He moved to Botswana’s capital city, Gaborone, in the seventh grade.

Letsile Tebogo 200m history

By winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tebogo became the first Olympic gold medal winner from Botswana and the first runner from Africa to win the 200m final at the Olympic Games. In 2023, he became the first African to win a medal in the 100m at the world championships.

“Africans can be sprinters, too,” Tebogo declared to NBCSports.com in an interview before the Paris Games.

Letsile Tebogo dedicated 2024 Paris Olympics to his mother

Tebogo’s mother, Seratiwa, died in May from an illness and Tebogo said he dedicated his 200m gold medal win to her. Tebogo held up his shoe to the camera after the race, and it featured his mother’s birthdate on it. He also painted her initials on his nails.

“I always think about her but I just try not to let it get into me that much and then just block it out and move forward,” Tebogo said last week.

"I believe there is a medal in these legs and it only needs the determination and the willpower to do it," he added. "I've had such a huge blow that affected me deeply so I'm still trying to get the confidence back into the body. It's not about injuries, it is all about my mum."

Letsile Tebogo-Usain Bolt comparison, explained

In 2022, at the U20 world championships in Columbia, Tebogo set a world junior record in winning the 100m gold medal in 9.91 seconds. He was far enough ahead in the final stretch that he turned around to gesture and smile at his nearest competitors. Tebogo later explained it was a tribute to Bolt as opposed to showboating.

"If somebody took it as disrespect, I'm really sorry," Tebogo said at the time, according to Reuters. "(It was so) everybody watching at home can enjoy the race – to remind them a little bit about what Usain Bolt did back in the day. He's my idol - the person I look up to."

The display quickly drew comparisons to Bolt on social media and Bolt even retweeted a post featuring Tebogo’s finish.

Letsile Tebogo used to train without shoes

“I used to train without shoes,” Tebogo told NBCSports.com. “Shoes were more expensive and we couldn’t afford that because we lived with our extended family, so it was difficult for us to get things. [If you did], it would be as if you were the favored child, so things had to be equal. So I used to train without shoes in both football and athletics. I would wear a pair of old pants that one of my uncles used to wear back when he was in school. It was just a generational thing.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet Letsile Tebogo, sprinter who beat Noah Lyles in Olympics 200m