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Botswana 4x400m team that won gold on Sunday
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Sports Desk
Botswana president Duma Boko has officially declared 29 September as a public holiday in the country in a special recognition of the nation's historic victory in the men's 4x400m relay at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Botswana became the first African Country to win this medal after Busang Collen Kebinatshipi sprinted past a USA opponent to clock 2:57.76 minutes.
Tebogo and team appear on the new currency notes of Botswana
The South African nation made history with Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi combining edge the USA that came second on 2:57.83 with South Africa winning bronze on 2:57.83. 21 year old Kepinatshipi had come of age, winning the men's 400m in fashion after clocking a national record of 43.53, the fastest time of the season, with Ndori winning bronze while Eppie came last.
It is from here that president Boko announced the state will set aside the day before their official Independence Day (30 September) to celebrate their newly minted champions. "Congratulations, my boys!" President Duma said via. video call to the 4x400m team yesterday.
"Thank you so much boys. The nation is proud, everybody is delirious about you guys, and we love you so much!"
Collen Kebinatshipi with the button
The president further wrote in a statement posted on X.
"A quick moment to congratulate our boys on their historic gold medal victory... feeling so proud here in New York, where I'll be attending the United Nations 80th General Assembly meetings. I'll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana's natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion Athletes! September 30th is our official Independence Day, and the 29th has been declared a public holiday."
This euphoria is reminiscent of the celebration that followed Tebogo's historic men's 200m victory at the last year's Olympic Games in Paris, with the team winning silver in the men's 4x400m, which has since led to the printing of Botswana currency bearing the team pictures.
Tebogo's gold was also a first event victory by an African athlete, and was honoured with a half-day holiday in Botswana.
Torch Media Africa
