Botswana Makes History as First African Nation to Win Men’s 4×400m at World Championships
Botswana stunned the athletics world on Sunday, September 21 by winning the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the first time an African nation has ever claimed the event.
The quartet of Collen Kebinatshipi, Bhekempilo “Lee” Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, and Bayapo Ndori stormed to victory in a time of 2:57.76, edging out the United States, who finished second in 2:57.83.
South Africa took bronze with the same time as the Americans but lost silver by thousandths of a second.
Running the anchor leg, Kebinatshipi, already the 400m world champion, held off a late charge from the Americans on a rain-soaked track to seal the historic win.
The victory cements Botswana’s status as a rising power in global sprinting. President Duma Gideon Boko has declared September 29 a national public holiday to celebrate the achievement, just days before the country’s Independence Day.
The triumph capped a memorable championships for Botswana. Kebinatshipi also won gold in the men’s 400m, while Ndori claimed bronze in the same event, placing Botswana 5th overall in the medal standings.
Source: TRT Afrika
