In a thrilling conclusion to the men's 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Botswana's 21-year-old Collen Kebinatshipi made history, becoming the first athlete from his country to win a world title in a men's event.
Collen Kebinatshipi leads Botswana to glory in men's 400m final
Botswana's Busang Collen Kebinatshipi celebrates taking the gold medal in the men's 400 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
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He set a national record with a time of 43.53 seconds, edging out Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards, who secured silver with a national record of 43.72 seconds.
Botswana also took home bronze, with 24-year-old Bayapo Ndori finishing in 44.20 seconds after the dogged challenge of Jamaica's 33-year-old Rusheen McDonald faded in the closing stages, with a resulting fourth place in 44.28.
Kebinatshipi expressed his excitement, saying, "This is my first title, and it feels crazy. I'm proud of our progress as a nation and as a continent."
The final showcased emerging talents, with none of the previous year's champions in the race, making it a wide-open competition. The event was marked by impressive performances, signaling a bright future for athletics in Botswana and beyond.