Botswana Beats USA to Men’s 4x400m World Title

Botswana has etched its name into athletics history after producing a sensational performance to win the men’s 4x400m relay at the World Championships in Tokyo, becoming the first African nation ever to claim gold in the event.

On a wet and electric night at the National Stadium, the Botswana quartet of Lee Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi delivered the race of their lives, storming to victory in a dramatic final lap that stunned reigning champions Team USA.

Their winning time of 2:57.76 was enough to hold off the fast-finishing Americans, who crossed the line just 0.07 seconds later at 2:57.83. South Africa completed the podium in 2:57.83 as well, narrowly missing out on silver in a photo finish that underlined just how tight the race was.

Botswana’s Moment of Glory

For Botswana, a country of just over 2 million people, this victory was more than a gold medal, it was a defining sporting moment.

Lee Eppie gave the team a steady start before handing over to 21-year-old sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo, who kept Botswana within striking distance of the leaders. Bayapo Ndori then delivered a blistering third leg to push the team firmly into medal contention.

But it was Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, already the newly crowned world champion in the individual 400m, who sealed the historic triumph. Starting the anchor leg just behind USA’s Rai Benjamin, Kebinatshipi dug deep on the back straight before unleashing a ferocious final sprint. In the last 30 meters, he surged past Benjamin to take the lead, crossing the line with his arms outstretched in triumph as Botswana’s small but passionate contingent in the stands erupted in celebration.

“This is for Africa, this is for Botswana!” Kebinatshipi said moments after the race. “We knew we had the team to do it, and tonight we proved it. We believed, we fought, and we made history.”

USA Denied, Africa Celebrates

Team USA, traditionally dominant in the men’s 4x400m, were forced to settle for silver despite a strong effort from their star-studded lineup. The narrow loss marked a rare defeat for the Americans in this event, where they have been perennial favorites for decades.

South Africa also impressed, with their anchor runner lunging at the line to finish level on time with the USA, though the photo finish confirmed their third-place finish. It was the first time in World Championship history that two African teams had stood together on the men’s 4x400m podium, a moment that could signal a shift in global athletics power.

Botswana’s triumph has been hailed as a breakthrough for African sprinting, a continent traditionally more associated with middle- and long-distance dominance.

Athletics analysts say the victory could inspire a new generation of sprinters across Africa. “What Botswana has achieved tonight is extraordinary,” said former Olympic champion Michael Johnson on commentary. “They didn’t just win; they took down the giants of this event. This will be remembered for years to come.”

Looking Ahead

With this gold medal, Botswana have now cemented themselves as one of the rising forces in global athletics. Attention will quickly turn to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where this same quartet could enter as heavy favorites to repeat their heroics on the sport’s biggest stage.

For now, though, the celebration belongs to Botswana, a country that dared to dream and delivered a result that will inspire an entire continent.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this,” Kebinatshipi said, clutching the Botswana flag. “We’ve shown the world that Africa can sprint with the best, and win.”

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