Botswana declares public holiday after ‘historic’ athletics gold medal

Botswana has declared a national holiday to commemorate its historic victory in the men’s 4×400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, marking the first time an African nation has won the event.

President Duma Boko praised the team’s performance, describing the gold medal as a “historic African win” in an online address.

The President designated Monday, September 29, as a public holiday to commemorate the achievement, which takes place a day before the country’s Independence Day.

On Sunday, Botswana’s team, comprising Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, defeated the US, winners of the last 10 world titles, in a rain-drenched event. South Africa took third place.

“I will inform everyone that Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are also our World Champion athletes,” the President remarked while attending the UN General Assembly in New York.

He portrayed the moment as “electric”, noting that Botswana’s performance highlighted its growing influence on the global stage.

The southern African nation secured fifth place overall in the championship’s medal standings – behind the US, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Canada – its best ever return after claiming two golds, one silver, and a bronze.

Last year, Botswana celebrated another historic milestone as Tebogo secured 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, upon his return 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 unique… manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic”.