22.9.2025
Botswana President Duma Boko has declared a public holiday to celebrate the country’s victory in the men’s 4×400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The Botswana 4x400m quartet of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi stunned the world Sunday Tokoyo to break America’s dominance of the event to win the gold. It is the first time an African country would achieve the feat at the World Championships.
President Boko said Monday September 29, will be a national holiday to celebrate the achievement – a day ahead of the country’s Independence Day.
“I’ll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion athletes,” the president said, speaking from New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly.
He described the moment as “electric”, adding that Botswana’s performance spoke to its rising stature on the global stage.
The southern African nation finished fifth overall in the championship’s medal standings – behind the US, Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada – their best ever return after taking two golds, one silver and a bronze.
Last year, Botswana celebrated another historic milestone as Tebogo won the nation’s first Olympic gold medal with his victory in the men’s 200m in Paris.
Botswana men's 4x400m team riding high.