THE people of Botswana were given the afternoon off work today through a presidential decree so they could celebrate its first gold medal at the Olympics.

Sprinter Letsile Tebogo’s win in the 200 metres on Thursday night in Paris was a moment to cherish for a southern African nation of 2.4 million people that's largely made up of desert. Botswana is maybe better known for being one of the world's top diamond producers.

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi gave everyone a half-day national holiday in recognition of Tebogo’s victory and to “pause and celebrate him,” his office said.

Before the 21-year-old Tebogo’s breakthrough, Botswana had won just two Olympic medals since its first Games in Moscow in 1980. They’ve all come on the track, with Nijel Amos winning silver in the 800 metres in 2012 and the men’s 4x400 relay team taking bronze at the last Olympics in Tokyo.

Tebogo’s gold was history for all of Africa as he became the first runner from the continent to win the Olympic title in the 200m.

Botswana’s neighbour Namibia has come close before, when Frankie Fredericks won silver medals in the 100 and 200 metres at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.