Botswana has declared a national holiday to celebrate the country’s stunning victory in the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, a triumph that not only delivered the nation’s first world title in the event but also marked the first time an African country has ever won it.
In a televised address from New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, Duma Boko, the president of Bostwana called the gold medal a “historic African win” and praised the team for their resilience on the global stage. He announced that Monday, September 29, a day before Botswana’s Independence Day would be set aside as a public holiday in honour of the achievement.
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“This moment is electric,” Boko said. “I will be sure to tell everyone, Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion athletes.”The victory came in dramatic fashion on Sunday evening, with Botswana’s quartet — Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi — powering past the United States, who had dominated the event for the past ten championships. Running in heavy rain, the team held their nerve to deliver a historic gold, with South Africa finishing in third place.
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The president described the relay win as more than just sporting success. “This performance speaks to Botswana’s rising stature on the global stage,” he said.
Botswana ended the championships with its best-ever medal haul — two golds, one silver and one bronze — finishing fifth overall behind the United States, Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada.
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This victory adds to a string of historic milestones for the southern African nation. Last year, sprinter Letsile Tebogo captured Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with his win in the men’s 200m at the Paris Games. That triumph was also the first time an African athlete had won the event, sparking jubilant celebrations across the country. Tens of thousands turned out at Gaborone’s National Stadium to welcome Tebogo home, with the government declaring a half-day holiday to mark the occasion.
