Gaone Leaname Maotoanong, affectionately known as “Lux”, will be remembered not only for his achievements on the track but also for the laughter, friendship and humility he brought to Botswana’s athletics community.
At his memorial service on Wednesday, former teammates, athletics officials and representatives of the sporting fraternity paid tribute to a man whose contribution to the country extended beyond medals and international competitions.
Their recollections portrayed a dedicated athlete who represented Botswana with pride, supported those around him and used humour to build lasting friendships throughout his career.
Gerald Bashingi, a former teammate at BDF Athletics Club, described Maotoanong as a bubbly personality who was always ready with a joke. He said Maotoanongrepresented both his club and the country with dedication, earning the affection of those who trained and competed alongside him.
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice-president for administration Oabona Theetso echoed those sentiments, saying Maotoanong lived up to his name, Leaname, through the laughter and joy he brought to others.
“He lived up to his name. He spread laughter and jokes to his teammates and all those he lived with,” Theetso said.
He described Maotoanong’s death as a significant loss to Botswana athletics, highlighting his commitment to the sport and his involvement in efforts to protect its integrity.
With athletics continuing to confront doping concerns, Theetso said Maotoanong believed in clean sport. He recalled that the athlete regularly carried water with him and also pointed to his involvement in athlete representation and the rules governing the sport.
Maotoanong served on the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) Athletes’ Commission from 2022 to 2025, contributing to discussions on athletes’ interests and welfare.
His involvement reflected a commitment to athletics beyond personal performance, extending to the sport’s administration and development.
A career built on international success
Maotoanong was part of a generation of Botswana athletes who demonstrated that the country could compete successfully against the world’s best.
Among his most notable achievements was winning gold in the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia.
He also helped Botswana secure gold in the 4x400m relay at the 2016 African Championships in Durban and the 2014 African Championships in Marrakech.
His international career included appearances at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the 2015 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, and the 2015 and 2017 World Relays.
At the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, he won silver in the 400m, while Botswana’s relay team claimed silver at the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
For coach Justice Dipeba, who sent a message from the United States, where he lives, Maotoanong’s legacy was inseparable from the personal growth he witnessed during their time together.
“I’m not only his coach, but someone who had the privilege of seeing him develop as an athlete and a person,” Dipeba said.
He recalled travelling with Maotoanong, celebrating victories and standing alongside him and other athletes when medals proved elusive.
“Lux grew up next to me. He was very funny, jolly and interesting. He was also very loving to his teammates,” he said.
Dipeba recalled how Maotoanong welcomed new teammates travelling by air for the first time with a joke that he had already paid for their food and they could eat freely.
The prank reflected Maotoanong’s playful nature and his ability to put others at ease, turning ordinary team experiences into lasting memories.
“He did well for this country and is one of the generationthat proved this country has potential, as small as it is,” Dipeba said.
Friendship beyond the track
For training partner Isaac Makwala, Maotoanong’spassing marked the loss of a friend whose presence had been a constant throughout years of competition and international travel.
Makwala said he first met Maotoanong in 2013. Their friendship developed as Maotoanong moved from the 100m and 200m to train alongside him in the longer sprint disciplines.
Maotoanong joined the senior national team in 2014, and the pair later shared rooms during trips and competed together in international relay events.
“Since we met, we have been friends. We ran the same race, and we started training together,” Makwala said.
He described Maotoanong as a kind athlete who treated others well and knew how to motivate his teammates, making him an important presence within the national team.
For those who shared training sessions, accommodation and international assignments with him, their bond extended well beyond the performances recorded in official results.
Middle-distance runner Nigel Amos offered another glimpse of Maotoanong’s humour, recalling a prank involving a familiar household product.
Amos said Maotoanong persuaded him to buy Nivea shower gel by telling him it was body lotion.
“I was just coming from the village,” Amos recalled, describing the incident as one of the memories that captured Maotoanong’s playful nature.
The anecdote offered a glimpse of the everyday mischief that endeared Maotoanong to his teammates and became part of the shared experiences they continue to remember.
Thuto Molebatsi, speaking on behalf of the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC), remembered Maotoanong as a humble man who avoided quarrels and maintained good relationships with those around him.
Even when financial disagreements arose, Molebatsi said Maotoanong did not allow them to define his relationships. Instead, he offered advice where he could.
The tributes returned to a common theme: Maotoanong’scharacter mattered as much to those who knew him as his achievements mattered to Botswana.
In its condolence message, the BAA described him as a distinguished athlete who represented the country on numerous international stages and contributed to the growth and success of athletics.
The association said his dedication, talent and commitment to excellence had earned him admiration from teammates, officials, competitors and athletics enthusiasts.
It extended condolences to the Maotoanong family, friends, teammates and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
For Botswana’s athletics fraternity, Maotoanong leaves behind a record of international achievement and a legacy of friendship, service and laughter. At his memorial, it was these personal qualities that repeatedly brought his former teammates back to the man behind the medals: a loyal companion who made the journey as memorable as the victories.
