Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi has struck gold when it mattered most for the small Sub-Saharan African nation.
The 21-year-old, who has steadily risen through the ranks in the 400m sprint, delivered a sensational performance in the final in Tokyo, Japan. In a fiercely contested race, Kebinatshipi shattered the national record and posted a world-leading time of 43.53 seconds to clinch his first global championship title.
Kebinatshipi becomes only the second Motswana to win gold at the World Championships, following in the footsteps of Amantle Montsho, who made history in 2011 in South Korea with her 49.56-second win in the women’s 400m.
To secure his victory, Kebinatshipi held off a strong challenge from Jereem Richards, who finished second with his own national record of 43.72 seconds.
This latest triumph adds to Kebinatshipi’s growing legacy. He was also part of the Botswana 4x400m men’s relay team that claimed silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, signaling a golden era for Botswana’s track and field prospects.
Ladies and gentlemen, all hail King Kebinatshipi! The first man from Botswana to win a world title.
