In a spectacle that blurred the lines between viral fame and elite sport, internet superstar iShowSpeed pulled off a shocker in Gaborone, edging Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo in a headline-grabbing sprint that had the crowd roaring from start to finish
From online bravado to on‑track glory
Months of bold claims and viral challenges culminated in a moment few expected: Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins lining up shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Botswana’s golden boy. The unlikely pairing drew a packed, buzzing crowd eager to witness a clash between social‑media theatrics and world‑class speed.
A stumble, a sprint, a sensational finish
When the gun fired both men exploded from the blocks, but an early slip by Tebogo proved decisive.
Seizing the opening with the instincts of a showman and the legs of a sprinter, iShowSpeed surged clear and crossed the line first, sending the stands into stunned celebration.
His immediate reaction; a jubilant, “I won that though!” - captured the surreal joy of the upset before he shared a sportsmanlike handshake with the Olympic champion.
Drama, banter and a gracious champion
True to form, iShowSpeed offered a rematch amid the post‑race theatrics, but Tebogo waved it off with a smile and a gracious quip: “No, it’s fine. I’ll let you take the win.”
The exchange underlined the friendly spirit of the event even as it produced one of the most talked‑about sprint moments of the year.
A growing résumé of headline challenges
This wasn’t Speed’s first foray into high‑profile racing. In November 2024 he took on American star Noah Lyles in a $100,000 50m dash, a contest Lyles won before donating the prize to charity. Since then, Speed has faced and beaten a string of celebrity opponents — from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher to viral fitness star Ashton Hall — and even staged a viral stunt racing a cheetah.
A return to elite company
Facing Tebogo marked a step back toward top‑tier athletics for the streamer, given the Motswana’s status as his country’s first Olympic gold medallist. While the result was shaped by an unfortunate slip, the spectacle only amplified interest in iShowSpeed’s ongoing African tour.
The tour rolls on
With Botswana checked off the list, the “Speed Does Africa” tour heads east, and social media is already alight with calls for fresh matchups. Fans have relentlessly tagged Kenya’s sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala, urging a blockbuster showdown with Africa’s fastest man and continental record holder. The continent — and the internet — will be watching.
