Botswana etched their name into track and field history, securing their first-ever global men’s 4x400m title in a thrilling race at the World Athletics Championships. Despite a torrential downpour and facing the formidable United States, a nation with a dominant legacy in the event, the Botswana quartet exhibited unwavering determination and exceptional teamwork to achieve their burning ambition. The victory, achieved under the aptly named floodlights, illuminated their exceptional athleticism and resilience.
The race unfolded with dramatic tension. Rai Benjamin, the 400m hurdles champion, gave the US a seemingly insurmountable lead heading into the final straight. As he approached the finish line, victory for the Americans appeared inevitable. South Africa, winners at the World Athletics Relays, and Botswana, Olympic silver medalists, seemed locked in a battle for second place. Zakithi Nene, a late addition to the South African team, mounted a powerful challenge on the outside, suggesting a potential upset or at the very least a close finish for second.
However, the climax of the race was yet to come. Collen Kebinatshipi, the newly crowned individual 400m champion, produced a breathtaking final surge, splitting the South African and American runners to secure a stunning victory for Botswana. His seemingly effortless glide through the final meters, reminiscent of his individual triumph, left Benjamin with no time to react. The Botswana team, against all odds, crossed the finish line in 2:57.76, claiming their historic gold medal.
The United States and South Africa were left in a photo finish for the silver medal, both clocking an identical time of 2:57.83, with the Americans edging out the South Africans by a mere two-thousandths of a second. While the US salvaged a silver medal, the result was a significant upset given their historical dominance in the event. The South African team, despite a strong showing, narrowly missed out on silver, their efforts ultimately eclipsed by Kebinatshipi’s extraordinary finish.
For Botswana, the victory held particular significance for Letsile Tebogo, their second-leg runner. Tebogo, who had helped the team secure silver in the Paris Olympics after winning the individual 200m title, had experienced both triumph and disappointment in his young career. The memory of a false start disqualification in the 100m final and a fourth-place finish in the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics fueled his desire for redemption. His powerful 44.05 split on the second leg put Botswana back on level terms with the USA, setting the stage for their eventual triumph.
The victory was a testament to the collective effort of the Botswana team. Bayapo Ndori, bronze medalist in the individual 400m and another member of the Paris Olympic silver medal-winning relay team, maintained their position before handing over to Kebinatshipi. The team’s jubilant celebration, led by Tebogo, mirrored the elation felt throughout Botswana. Their high-stepping dance through the rain-soaked track captured the essence of their remarkable achievement, a moment of pure joy and national pride. The US team, having narrowly avoided elimination earlier in the competition after a run-off with Kenya, claimed silver with a completely different lineup than the one that struggled in the heats. South Africa’s challenge remained alive thanks to an inspired third-leg run by their veteran athlete and 400m world record holder, Wayde van Niekerk. Belgium secured fourth place, followed by Qatar and Great Britain, rounding out the top six finishers in the fiercely competitive 4x400m relay. Botswana’s gold medal performance, however, was the undeniable highlight of the event, a story of perseverance, teamwork, and a nation’s dream realized on the world stage.
