Keypoints:
- Botswana claims first African 4x400m gold
- President declares 29 September public holiday
- Team edges US in dramatic rain-soaked race
BOTSWANA will mark a national day of celebration after its men’s 4×400 metres relay team stunned the world to win gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The southern African nation became the first African country to claim the title, edging out long-time champions the United States in a dramatic, rain-swept final.
President Duma Boko announced that Monday, September 29, will be a public holiday, falling a day before Botswana’s independence day festivities. Speaking in a live address from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly, Boko called the victory a ‘historic African win’ and praised the team for ‘an electric moment that signals Botswana’s growing global stature’.
Diamond performance on the track
Botswana’s quartet of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi powered through the sodden track to dethrone the United States, who had dominated the event with ten consecutive world titles. South Africa secured the bronze.
‘I’ll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground – they are our World Champion athletes,’ Boko said, his pride evident as he hailed the runners’ grit and composure under challenging conditions.
Best-ever championship finish
The victory contributed to Botswana’s strongest-ever showing at a World Championships. The nation finished fifth in the overall medal table behind the United States, Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada, collecting two gold medals, one silver and a bronze.
The triumph also cements the status of Letsile Tebogo, who last year became the first African to win Olympic gold in the men’s 200m at the Paris Games. His breakthrough sparked nationwide celebrations, with tens of thousands gathering at Gaborone’s National Stadium to welcome him home. The government then declared a half-day holiday, with former president Mokgweetsi Masisi calling it ‘a most unique moment etched in the annals of the Republic’.
A new chapter for Botswana sport
This latest relay success has fuelled hopes of a sustained golden era for Botswana athletics and for African sprinting more broadly. Analysts say the win not only showcases the country’s sporting progress but also inspires a new generation of athletes across the continent.
