By Samson Jonas
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay team made history by winning gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The victory was a culmination of a brilliant performance by the team of Lee Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi, who defied a torrential downpour and a traditionally dominant US team.
This marked the first time an African nation had won the event at the championships.The race was an intense spectacle from the start. The US team, after a qualifying run-off, came into the final determined to secure a win.
However, the Botswana team, fueled by a burning desire for a global title, was undeterred. The race saw close competition, with the US holding the lead as the runners headed into the final leg.
It was on the final stretch that Collen Kebinatshipi, the individual 400m champion, showcased his “ethereal talent.” With a spectacular closing kick, he floated through the middle of his competitors, snatching victory in a photo finish.
Botswana’s winning time of 2:57.76 was just seven-hundredths of a second ahead of the US and South Africa, who both clocked 2:57.83.The win was a moment of national pride, celebrated with a public holiday announced by President Duma Gideon Boko.
The team’s victory highlights Botswana’s growing prowess in athletics, building on their bronze medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The historic gold medal race in Tokyo will be remembered as one of the greatest relay races in history.
