Nine terminal at the World Athletics, Botswana's first champion: “I'm crazy about happiness!”

Collen Kebinatshipiaged 21, from Botswana, has reached maturity as a runner in individual tests. And he did this under the torrential rain in Tokyo, when he ended the first 400 m men's final, registering a 43.53 s national record, which represents the fastest time of the season.

Thus, he became the first world champion of his country in a male sample. Before him, Amantle Montsho, now 42 years old, won the title of the world at 400 m, but female, at the Daegu 2011 edition.

The world expected that the Tebogo Lets, the 200 m Olympic champion in Paris 2024, a world vice-champion at 100 m in Budapest 2023, to be the one who signs the premiere, but Kebinatshipi took it forward.

Collen Kebinatship: “After the semifinal, I started to truly believe in me”

In the final race of what was a sample full of surprises at the World Championships in Tokyo 2025, the African athlete was the strongest by a rival at the end of his career, Jereem Richards, 31 years old, from Trinidad and Tobago, who won the silver with a national record of 43.72 flooded.

On an evening when Botswana had three finalists, the African country eventually obtained two medals. Bayapo Ndori, 24, also won the bronze with his best result in the season, 44.20.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie-1xyq_np4

“It's my first title and I feel crazy about happiness“Kebinatshipi said.”After the semifinal, I began to truly believe in myself. I told myself to start quickly and evolve better than in the semifinal. The medal was just a bonus“He believes.

“It is fantastic to be able to establish the national record and be the world leader of the season. I still have to run the pole – I have to recover for it. I think we are a strong candidate for the gold medal. The fact that three athletes in Botswana participated in this final shows that we are growing – we truly improve as Botswana and Africa”, Kebinatshipi said.

Final at 400 m with no big name and with a unique winner

Collen Kebinatshipi celebrating Victoria at 400 m at CM 2025 Photo: Imago Images

The final had a fresh and open air, given that the top athletes were eliminated. None of the participants in the 2023 World Finals were present, and only one: Richards.

The Olympic champion, the American Quincy Halldid not even reach Tokyo because of an injury, and the qualification proved to be impossible for the British Matt Hudson-Smithsilver medalist at the latest world championships and Joos in Paris 2024, and for the Olympic bronze medal in Zambia, Muzala Samukonga.

Everything was still at stake for the eight finalists-and although Kebinatshipi had been the most impressive in previous rounds, he was not sure he would manage to maintain his position in the most important stitch in his career until then.

Kebinatshipi had already won a series of medals worldwide and continental, but all at 4×400 m – Including the Paris 2024 Olympic silver alongside Ndori and the 200 m champion, Tebogo.

After missing the individual Olympic final at just one place last summer, Kebinatshipi assured his world glory at the next attempt. And making history for his country.