Botswana Olympian Gaone 'Lux' Maotoanong Dies at 35
- The Botswana Athletics Association announced the death of former sprinter Gaone Leaname 'Lux' Maotoanong on Thursday, 22 October 2026
- Maotoanong was part of Botswana's men's 4x400m relay team that claimed Commonwealth Games gold on the Gold Coast in 2018
- The 35-year-old also represented Botswana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where his relay team finished fifth
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Botswana's athletics community is mourning the loss of sprinter Gaone Leaname "Lux" Maotoanong, who died at the age of 35.
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) confirmed his passing in an official notice released on Thursday, 22 October 2026. The circumstances surrounding his death have not been confirmed.
Commonwealth Games Gold on the Gold Coast
Maotoanong leaves behind a career that reached its peak at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. He ran the opening leg of Botswana's men's 4x400m relay team, which claimed gold in a time of 3:01.78 on 14 April 2018. His teammates that day were Baboloki Thebe, Onkabetse Nkobolo, and Isaac Makwala. Botswana finished ahead of the Bahamas and Jamaica to claim the title.
He also won gold in the men's 4x400m relay at the African Championships in both 2014 and 2016, establishing himself as a consistent performer at continental level.
A career on the biggest stages
Maotoanong represented Botswana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the relay team finished fifth in their event. His international appearances also included the World Athletics Championships and various African championships, placing him among a generation of Botswana athletes who raised the country's profile in relay sprinting.
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World Athletics records his personal best in the 400m at 45.63 seconds and lists him as a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Born on 7 May 1991, he was 35 at the time of his death.
His passing marks the loss of one of Botswana's most decorated relay sprinters on the international stage.
Source: Briefly News
