Evidence of Botswana's prowess is now scattered across continents, with the best performance in the 400m recorded at last year's Olympic games when the men's relay team emerged with a silver medal. Months earlier, the team had won a first gold at the World Relays in Bahamas as Botswana's burgeoning influence in the one lap sprints reaches new heights. It is a distance that is expected to be the focal point of more celebrations to come with the 2025 World Championships on the horizon, and Botswana has laid an unmistakable marker. While athletics has enjoyed unparalleled success, there was an unexpected distraction last week, when three key members of the 4x400m team decided to ditch the squad on the eve of the World Relays, which took place in Guangzhou on Saturday and Sunday.
Botswana's most recognisable sport brand, Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebintshipi and Bayapo Ndori made a shock decision to temporarily cut ties with the national side. This appeared to shatter any medal hopes in China, with coach, Justice Dipeba facing a gargantuan task to motivate the remaining members. The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president-administration, Oabona Theetso, however, remained optimistic amid the dark cloud, declaring: "Rest assured that the boys in China will bring the smiles on the faces of Batswana." And indeed, against all odds the team delivered a bronze medal, further cementing Botswana's place among top nations in the 400m. There is always a good in a bad situation, or mildly put, it was a blessing in disguise for the remaining members who proved that athletics is a dependable conveyor belt of talent. While the nation doubted, the BAA and the coaches maintained an element of sanguinity, and it turned out well in the end. Like a phoenix, the team was determined to rise from the supposed 'ashes' of the shock decision of their more accomplished team mates who decided to withdraw at the 11th hour.
