Discover how a young Botswanan sprinter stunned the athletics world, rewriting history and signaling the dawn of a new era.

Most athletics fans globally may have expected familiar names to dominate the men’s 400 meters at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. 

Instead, the spotlight shifted to 21-year-old Collen Kebinatshipi, who stormed to victory in a national record of 43.53 seconds. The tall, fluid runner from Botswana stunned the field, becoming his country’s first male world champion in track and field. 

Kebinatshipi’s fearless race and youthful push-up celebration captured the imagination of fans, marking the arrival of a new global sprinting star.

Kebinatshipi’s triumph was more than just a fast race, it was a coming-of-age performance. Against a field of emerging names, he kept his composure in heavy rain and powered home ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards. That win placed him 10th on the all-time list, cementing his status among sprinting’s elite.

What set the race apart was not only his speed but also his maturity under pressure. Even as Richards closed in the final stretch, Kebinatshipi’s rhythm never faltered. He looked like an athlete running far beyond his years, combining raw talent with discipline.

No Botswanan male athlete had ever reached such heights, and Kebinatshipi’s victory instantly placed his nation on the sprinting map.

Before his solo breakthrough, Kebinatshipi earned his reputation through relays. He was part of the Botswana squad that struck gold at the 2021 World U20 Championships, and over the years, his contributions in 4x400m races became central to the country’s success. Those experiences helped him gain confidence on international stages.

By 2024, he was no longer just a promising junior. He reached the semifinals of the 400m at the Paris Olympics and added a silver medal in the relay. That Olympic taste of success prepared him for even bigger moments.

Consistency was the hallmark of his 2025 season. Podium finishes across Diamond League meets in Shanghai, Xiamen, and Rome showed he could consistently run with the world’s best. That foundation gave him the strength and belief to strike gold in Tokyo.

Kebinatshipi’s rise is part of a broader movement in Botswana athletics. Alongside sprint stars like Letsile Tebogo and Bayapo Ndori, he represents a generation reshaping the nation’s sporting identity. Having three Botswana runners in the 400m final in Tokyo showed how the country is beginning to challenge long-standing sprinting powers.

At just 21, Kebinatshipi already embodies the qualities of a leader: confidence, resilience and ambition. 

His 43.53-second run doesn’t just mark him as fast; it marks him as a contender for dominance in the years ahead.