Botswana has declared a public holiday to celebrate the country's victory in the men's 4x400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, making it the first African nation to win the event.
President Duma Boko hailed the gold medal as a historic African win, praising the team for their outstanding performance in an online address.
He announced Monday, 29 September, as a holiday to celebrate the achievement, just a day before 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, who held the title for the last 10 world championships, in a rain-soaked race, with South Africa finishing in third place.
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 stated from New York while attending the UN General Assembly.
He described the moment as electric, emphasizing Botswana's rising stature on the global stage.
Botswana finished fifth overall in the championship's medal standings, achieving its best result ever with a total of two golds, one silver, and one bronze, finishing behind the US, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Canada.
Last year, Botswana celebrated a significant milestone when Letsile Tebogo won the nation's first Olympic gold medal in men's 200m in Paris, a victory that united the nation in celebration.
The government had previously declared a half-day holiday for Tebogo's homecoming, allowing citizens to commemorate his success, a unique moment noted by the then-President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
