Botswana is buzzing with joy after its men’s 4×400 metres relay team shocked the athletics world by winning gold at the World Championships in Tokyo. In a rain-soaked final, the southern African nation dethroned long-time champions, the United States, to become the first African country ever to claim the title.
The victory was so sweet that President Duma Boko declared Monday, September 29, a national holiday, just a day before the country’s independence celebrations. Speaking live from New York at the UN General Assembly, he hailed the team’s triumph as a “historic African win” that showed Botswana’s growing presence on the global stage.
Diamonds on the Track
The quartet—Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi—ran with grit and composure to upset the Americans, who had dominated the event with ten straight titles. South Africa came in third, taking the bronze. Beaming with pride, President Boko declared, “Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground – they are our World Champion athletes.”
Best Ever for Botswana
This gold capped off Botswana’s strongest performance in World Championship history. The country finished fifth overall with two gold medals, one silver and a bronze—an achievement that places it among the world’s athletics powerhouses. Star sprinter Letsile Tebogo added shine to the moment, building on his legacy after making history as Africa’s first Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 200m last year.
A Golden Era in the Making
The relay win has sparked dreams of a golden era for Botswana and African sprinting at large. Beyond medals, analysts believe the victory will inspire the next wave of athletes across the continent. From Gaborone to Lagos, the message is clear: African speed is rising, and Botswana just put the world on notice.
