Golden-tshipi
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 19, 2025 10:42
The 21-year-old did not allow the moist Japan National Stadium track to distract him as he sailed to a national record and world lead of 43.53 to win his first major global title.
The bronze medal also came Botswana's way through Bayapo Ndori, who cruised to the finish line with a Season’s Best (SB) of 44.20. Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago took the silver medal.
South African Zakiti Nene, who was also a medal prospect, fell short of the podium finish, settling for position five in 44.55. Kebinatshipi showed his intention to run away with the title with his world-leading time of 43.61 during the semi-final and went into the final as a favourite.
As Botswana basks in Kebinatshipi's glory, the athlete will smile all the way to the bank after pocketing $70,000 (nearly P1 million), whilst locally, the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) will give him P150,000.
'I didn't expect this. Coming into this championship, you only think about the final. The way I ran the heats was not really good. I was the fastest (loser) to qualify. After that, my coach called me for a meeting, which lasted for an hour and told me this is not the end, we are going for the semi-final,' Kebinatshipi told journalists at the end of the race.
'I told myself this was just mentally, the body is always ready, mentally, I have been holding back a bit. But ever since that meeting with my coach, that's the main thing that changed me,' he added.
His coach, Chilume Ntshwarang, will receive P25,000, whilst the assistant coach will pocket P15,000. Bayapo Ndori will bank P75,000 for his bronze medal finish, while his coach will take home P15,000, and the assistant coach will be rewarded with P9,000. The third Botswana athlete in the final, Lee Bhekimpilo Eppie, finished eighth and will take home P20,000 from the BNSC. Speaking after the race, Ndori said it was a huge achievement for Botswana to have won two medals at the same time.
“It was an amazing race. It is the first time this has happened. When we went to the race, we were targeting a podium finish.
“I am looking forward to the relay; we are going to bring a strong team, and we are targeting a gold medal,' Ndori said.
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) acting president, Oabona Theetso, said there is no word best fitting the achievement.
“Congratulations to him and, most importantly, his coach. This is their collective effort,” Theetso added.
Former 400m national record holder, Isaac Makwala, said Kebinatshipi's victory is a surprise.
“I did not expect a gold medal from him, but I am very happy for him. But it is something that he was thinking about. We talk every day, not just about athletics but life in general. Ahead of the race, I told him to listen to his body; if it agrees, he should do what he did during the semi-finals,” Makwala said.