A golden moment worth celebrating

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday September 23, 2025 13:38

Team Botswana arrived in Tokyo with accompanying hopes of a good outing, and as the ever-reliable goose, they duly laid the golden eggs. For the first time, Botswana emerged from the World Championships, athletics' premier event, with two gold medals to go with a bronze. It is the most successful outing by any local team at a world competition, and the achievement has rightly been the silver lining for a nation battling the challenges of the economy. In response, President Duma Boko declared next week Monday a public holiday to not only celebrate the feat but acknowledge the significance of the victory, achieved against all odds for a nation with a small population. Africa is seeing the emergence of a continental giant in athletics, as Letsile Tebogo proved at last year's Olympics where he became the first African to win a gold medal in the 200m.

Busang Collen Kebinatshipi also made history in Tokyo when he became only the second African to land gold in the 400m, shattering the national record twice in the process as well as recording two world leads. His compatriot, Bayapo Ndori grabbed a bronze as Botswana provided three finalists in the 400m, which was another feather in the cap. It was not over as more was to come when the 4x400m relay team delivered a sumptuous run that earned the athletes the world title. It was the first time that an African country had won a gold medal in the 4x400m relay. These are no mean achievements and they are worthy every ounce of celebration. Botswana has been firmly placed on the world map, thanks to the heroics of the boys and girl in Tokyo, not forgetting forbearers like Amantle Montsho, Nijel Amos and Isaac Makwala, as well as those who came before them. The athletics team's performance brings with it a strong message to the country's leadership and the wider community at large, including the corporate world. Significant investment is needed in this sector to produce more Kebinatshipis and and Tebogos. It is now without a doubt that talent is abound, what is needed are resources, particularly financial, to help unearth the next diamonds.

Sport has thrived in the midst of a stagnant, if not shrinking budget, and the Tokyo performance should serve as a clarion call to concerned authorities to act decisively and give sport, in particular, athletics, the financial treatment it deserves.