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Botswana declares public holiday after ‘historic’ athletics gold medal
5:10 CAT | 22 Sep 2025
Photo:Β Botswana Athletics AssociationΒ
Botswana 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 first African nation to win the event.
President Duma Boko hailed the gold medal as a “historic African win”, in an online address praising the team for their performance.
He announced Monday, 29 September, as a holiday to celebrate the achievement – a day ahead of the country’s independence day.
On Sunday, Botswana’s team of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi edged out the US, the winners of the last 10 world titles, in a rain-drenched race. South Africa took third position.
“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.
Historic African Victory! π§πΌ
A quick moment to congratulate our boys on their historic gold medal victory at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo!
Feeling so proud here in New York, where Iβll be attending the United Nations 80th General Assembly meetings. Iβll be sure toβ¦ pic.twitter.com/f8zCSwMQSt
β Duma Gideon Boko (@duma_boko) September 21, 2025
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.
His triumph, which also marked the first time an African athlete had won the event, became a national sensation, with tens of thousands of people celebrating him at the National Stadium in the capital, Gaborone, after he returned to the country.
The government declared a half-day holiday allowing citizens to “pause and celebrate him” – in what then-President Mokgweetsi Masisi described as a “most uniqueβ¦ manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic”.
Congratulations boys β¨ I am proud of you, the country is proud of you. You have carried the Botswana flag high on the global stage, showing the world the strength, talent & resilience of our nation. BRILLIANT! pic.twitter.com/Nx8SMY2hAr
β Office of the President| Republic of Botswana. (@BWPresidency) September 18, 2025
πππππ π ππ ππππππππ, πππππ π ππ ππ πππππ₯
Congratulations to Team Botswanaβs menβs 4x400m relay squad for their spectacular triumph at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Your grit, unity, and unwavering spirit have brought glory to the nation.β¦ pic.twitter.com/r7pCtG3MAe
β Botswana Tourism (@BotswanaTourism) September 21, 2025
Itβs a Gold!
A golden History for Africa!This is Botswana π§πΌπ§πΌπ§πΌ
Home of Athletics. Pula!#WCHTokyo25 #GoBotswana pic.twitter.com/KMMRY2U1rC
β Duma Gideon Boko (@duma_boko) September 21, 2025
Source: BBC
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