Botswana declares public holiday after historic athletics gold medal following the men’s 4×400 metres relay triumph at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. This landmark victory made Botswana the first African nation ever to win the event and prompted President Duma Boko to announce a national celebration day.
On 29 September 2025, just one day before the country’s 59th Independence Day, schools, offices and public services will close to honour athletes Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi. In an online address delivered from New York during the UN General Assembly session, President Boko described the win as a “historic African achievement” and likened the quartet to the nation’s “natural diamonds”.
A Rain-Drenched Race for the Ages
In Tokyo’s sweltering conditions and under persistent rain, Botswana’s relay squad executed a textbook performance. Eppie set a strong platform, passing the baton smoothly to world-record holder Tebogo, whose leg maintained contact with the lead pack. Ndori and Kebinatshipi closed with controlled aggression, overtaking the United States team—ten-time defending champions—in the home straight. South Africa secured bronze, ensuring two African nations reached the podium.
The final time of 2 minutes 58.12 seconds broke Botswana’s own national record and sent ripples through the global athletics community. “It felt electric in that last 100 metres,” Kebinatshipi reflected afterwards. “When I saw the American runner just ahead, I knew our country’s history was about to change.”
National Euphoria and Official Recognition
News of the victory sparked jubilation across Botswana. Social media exploded with congratulatory messages under the hashtag #NaturalDiamonds, a nod to the president’s words. In Gaborone, spontaneous gatherings formed at major roundabouts and outside the National Stadium. Vendors sold T-shirts emblazoned with the runners’ names and the national flag.
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Philda Kereng confirmed that transport services would run free for the holiday, allowing citizens to travel for family celebrations and community events. The minister also announced plans for a state banquet in Gaborone to honour the athletes and their coaches.
Building on a Legacy of Firsts
This relay gold adds to Botswana’s growing reputation on the world stage. In 2024, Letsile Tebogo claimed the nation’s first Olympic gold in the men’s 200 metres at Paris. His victory became a national sensation, with tens of thousands welcoming him home at the National Stadium. Then-President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared a half-day holiday, praising Tebogo’s achievement as a moment “etched in our nation’s history”.
The Tokyo relay success signals a deepening of Botswana’s athletic prowess beyond individual sprint events. It reflects sustained investment in track and field facilities, talent identification programmes and international coaching partnerships. The Botswana Athletics Association has fast-tracked a youth development scheme that scouts promising runners from remote districts and offers scholarships for training abroad.
Economic and Diplomatic Benefits
Analysts note that high-profile sporting victories often yield economic benefits through tourism and sponsorship. The upcoming holiday, coinciding with Independence Day festivities, may attract diaspora visitors keen to celebrate dual milestones. Travel agencies report increased bookings for airfare and hotel packages in early October.
On the diplomatic front, President Boko’s address at the UN highlighted the power of sport to foster unity and project national soft power. He invited fellow member states to witness Botswana’s Independence celebrations and extended a hand for cooperative sports exchanges.
Preparing for Future Competitions
Looking ahead, Botswana’s relay team will target the African Games in Accra next year and the 2026 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Coach Anthony Nkau said the squad would maintain its rigorous training regimen, emphasising baton exchanges and split-second pacing strategies. “We know other teams will be studying our race,” he said. “Our job is to stay one step ahead.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
For many young Batswana, the relay victory cements belief that they too can succeed internationally. Schools will use the holiday to hold athletics clinics, and the Ministry of Education plans to integrate athlete visits into assemblies, where champions share their experiences and encourage students to pursue their dreams.
“These athletes come from humble backgrounds,” Education Minister Botlogile Tshireletso commented. “Their story teaches our children that hard work, discipline and national pride combine to produce greatness.”
Conclusion
By declaring a public holiday, Botswana honours not just four athletes but an entire nation’s collective ambition. As Eppie, Tebogo, Ndori and Kebinatshipi prepare to return home, they carry with them the hopes of millions and the promise that Africa’s presence in world athletics will only grow stronger.
