Busang Collen Kebinatshipi stepped up for Botswana in Tokyo. Photo: Imago

Letsile Tebogo had enjoyed unchallenged dominance as Botswana’s star man but now there is a new sheriff in town by the name Busang Collen Kebinatshipi.

In the last two years, Letsile Tebogo had been Botswana’s star man following his exploits at the 2023 World Championships and Paris 2024 Olympics but there is a new sheriff in town.

Tebogo won silver and bronze in 100m and 200m at the 2023 World in Budapest, Hungary and cemented his legacy at the Paris Olympics, winning gold in 200m, a first-ever for his country, and the maiden title for Africa over the distance.

He took it a notch higher by anchoring Team Botswana to silver in the 4x400m relay, gaining global acclaim, and returned home to a heroic welcome, turning into a superstar that, as he admitted, could not walk freely in the streets anymore.

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Heading to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, the responsibility of delivering success rested on his young shoulders as he was expected to perform well in 100m, perhaps win gold in 200m, and lead Botswana to a medal in the 4x400m relay.

However, it went horribly wrong as the 21-year-old was disqualified from the 100m final due to a false start, and in ‘his race,’ the 200m, he was fourth to the astonishment of many.

It left Botswana scratching their heads over whether they would leave Tokyo with any gold medal. Enter Busang Collen Kebinatshipi. A largely unknown athlete beyond the borders of his country, Kebinatshipi flew under the radar but he would soon grab the spotlight.

Kebinatshipi went to Tokyo without a single international win this year and had narrowly missed the Paris Olympic final by just 0.02 seconds, while one of his season highlights was a 20.08 seconds personal best to win the national 200m title.

But in Tokyo, he rose to the occasion, emerging as the surprise 400m gold medalist after a scorching run in the final as he lowered his personal best from 44.22 seconds, 43.61 seconds and 43.53 seconds in the heats, semi-finals and final.

It was the first-ever gold medal for Botswana at the World Championships and he would then combine with Tebogo, Lee Eppie and Bayapo Ndori to deliver the 4x400m relay gold, having anchored the team.

It was the finest-ever World Championships performance from a Botswana team and Kebinatshipi was the man who delivered it, giving birth to a new star in the country.

While Tebogo remains hugely popular, Kebinatshipi is the man of the moment, and he has stolen the spotlight from the ‘School Boy’ who had hogged the limelight unchallenged for the last two years.

His challenge now is remaining at the top of the tree as that is what Tebogo has been doing since becoming a superstar, dominating his events, especially the 200m, and now, the 400 may have now got its new king.