Botswana has declared a public holiday to honour the country’s stunning victory in the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, becoming the first African nation to win the event.
In a televised address, President Duma Boko described the gold medal as a “historic African win” and praised the team for delivering a performance that will be remembered for generations.
He announced that Monday, 29 September, will be observed as a national holiday—coming just a day before Botswana celebrates its independence.
On Sunday night, the quartet of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi produced a dramatic finish to upset the United States, who had dominated the relay with ten consecutive world titles. South Africa claimed bronze in the rain-soaked final.
“Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just beneath the ground—they are our world champion athletes,” President Boko declared from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly. He described the victory as “electric”, adding that it signalled Botswana’s growing stature on the global stage.
The southern African nation ended the championships with its best-ever medal haul, finishing fifth overall with two golds, one silver and a bronze—behind only the United States, Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada.
This triumph adds to Botswana’s remarkable recent record in athletics. Just last year, Letsile Tebogo made history by winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 200m at the Paris Games.
His victory, which also marked the first time an African had won the event, sparked nationwide celebrations, culminating in a hero’s welcome at the National Stadium in Gaborone.
On that occasion, the government declared a half-day holiday, with then-President Mokgweetsi Masisi hailing Tebogo’s feat as one that would remain “etched in the annals of the Republic”.
