29 April 2026
The surprise 400m world champion spoke with a small group of reporters ahead of the World Athletics Relays this weekend (2-3 May) in his home nation. Can he break the world record? That’s not his focus, he says.
The recent global sprinting success for Africa comes down to one factor, says reigning 400 metres world champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana: Belief.
“The mindset we used before was that we are not meant for [the sprints], but now we challenge ourselves in everything – and we explore ourselves in every event,” the 22-year-old rising star told reporters on a conference call last week.
“Africans have been known for long-distance events… the Kenyans and Ethiopians, [but] seeing African athletes emerging [in the sprints], it’s a huge, huge improvement. That’s why we have a big pool of sprinters in Africa.”
It was a different kind of pool on the track of the National Stadium in Tokyo at last year’s World Athletics Championships, as Botswana’s Kebinatshipi chased down Team USA in pouring rain in the final metres of the men’s 4x400m relay – giving Africa its first-ever global title in that event. It was Kebinatshipi’s second world gold in just four days, following victory in the men’s 400m.
His golden turn in Tokyo has made the runner a national hero, and his celebrity – and speed – will be on display this weekend as the world’s best sprinters head to his home nation for the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026, set for 2-3 May.
It’s a chance to celebrate the emerging sprinting prowess by the likes of Kebinatshipi, his compatriot – the Olympic men’s 200m champion – Letsile Tebogo, and others, and is also an opportunity to build on it even further.
“[We want to] get a gold, for sure,” Kebinatshipi said of the Botswana men’s 4x400m relay team.
“Botswana believes in us. And we know that when we are well prepared, we can make them proud. So we are aiming for a gold in the 4×4, and podium finishes in the other races.”
They are goals that once could have been considered distant dreams for Kebinatshipi and his African peers.
Busang Collen Kebinatshipi on the influence of Isaac Makwala
Kebinatshipi credits some of the aforementioned belief to his own personal hero, Botswana sprinting great Isaac Makwala. Makwala led Botswana to Olympic bronze in the men’s 4x400m relay at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021, and is a three-time African champion in the 400m.
“From a young age, Isaac has been my role model,” Kebinatshipi confirmed. “[Lately] he has been close to me and guiding me, [which is] why I had that motivation and belief in myself that I can do it.
“I really appreciate the role he has played in my career.”
Yes, there has been sprinting improvements across the continent, but the Batswana have particular reason to celebrate, with Tebogo’s gold at Paris 2024 backed up by a glittering World Championships in which Bayapo Ndori joined Kebinatshipi on the 400m podium (bronze) before that stunning 4x400m relay win to close out the event.
Kebinatshipi points back to Makwala and his motivation.
“At first, we didn’t really believe in ourselves as athletes here in Botswana… we didn’t know what it really means to show up,” he explained.
“[But now], we have upcoming athletes who have been looking up to the likes of Isaac Makwala, who represented us well with everything,” he added.
“That’s why, every time when you step on global stages, we make sure that we deliver our best.”
Setting goals, the 43-second barrier and “aiming for” LA 2028 Olympics
Everywhere Kebinatshipi now goes in Botswana, he turns heads. But, he says, that is the only thing that’s different. Otherwise, he’s kept his head down and continued working hard, with LA 2028 as the ultimate goal after just missing out on the 400m final in Paris.
“It’s just cool with me,” he says of his celebrity, adding that it’s all about planning when he goes out: “I know for me, [I plan] an extra 30 minutes for pictures and everything.”
His 43.53 to win Worlds in the 400m is just a half second off the world record of 43.03, set by another African, Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa, and while there is talk of Kebinatshipi breaking the 43-second barrier, that is not the goal – or the focus.
“I do set my goals,” he confirmed. “But with the world record, it hasn’t been in our chat with my coach. We’ve just been discussing that we have to go season-by-season and – when I’m ready to run a good time – I’ll push a good time.
“If the record is going to be broken, it’s going to broken. But as of now, we haven’t entered those [discussions].”
Has being a world champion changed him beyond those extra 30 minutes on his shopping trips?
“Before the World Championships [last year], we just aim for the final; we didn’t aim to win gold or break the national record,” he said. “So I will say we overachieved.
“[But] when it comes to national record talks and winning gold on global stages… that was a bonus,” he added.
“We are just planning for the 2028 Olympics. Winning Worlds ‘early’ didn’t go to my head. Now, we go back to the drawing board for what we are aiming for – which is the 2028 Olympics.”
2026 World Athletics Relays Gaborone – Schedule
All times local time, Central Africa Time (CAT) (GMT+2)
May 2
- 14:05 – Mixed 4x100m relay heats
- 14:30 – Mixed 4x400m relay heats
- 15:05 – Women’s 4x100m relay heats
- 15:30 – Men’s 4x100m relay heats
- 15:55 – Women’s 4x400m relay heats
- 16:30 – Men’s 4x400m relay heats
May 3
- 14:02 – Mixed 4x100m relay heats
- 14:20 – Mixed 4x400m relay heats
- 14:44 – Women’s 4x400m relay heats
- 15:08 – Men’s 4x400m relay heats
- 15:30 – Women’s 4x100m relay heats
- 15:47 – Men’s 4x100m relay heats
- 16:05 – Mixed 4x100m relay final
- 16:13 – Mixed 4x400m relay final
- 16:24 – Women’s 4x100m relay final
- 16:32 – Men’s 4x100m relay final
- 16:40 – Women’s 4x400m relay final
- 16:51 – Men’s 4x400m relay final
How to watch the 2026 World Athletics Relays – Gaborone, Botswana
The World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 will be streamed live on the World Athletics website across several territories.
Local broadcasters around the world will also telecast the event. Viewers in the United States can catch the action live on Peacock, the event starting around 8:00 am ET on both days.
Source: https://shorturl.at/aItO8
