Kebinatshipi targets 400m world record after Tokyo gold

Collen Kebinatshipi seen from hips up, wearing a light blue Botswana running vest with a name bib on the front, black shorts and blue running sleeve covering part of his right arm, stretches out both arms in celebration after winning the 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Blurred in the background are South African and Jamaican runners trailing in his wake and behind them a large crowdGetty Images

Collen Kebinatshipi became the first man from Botswana to win gold at the World Athletics Championships when he triumphed in Tokyo last month

Isaac Fanin and Rob Stevens
BBC World Service

Collen Kebinatshipi has set his sights on breaking Wayde van Niekerk's 400m world record after being crowned world champion last month.

The 21-year-old from Botswana ran the 10th-fastest time in history when he clocked 43.53 seconds to win gold in Tokyo.

South African Van Niekerk's record of 43.03s has stood since he won Olympic gold at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"Records are meant to be broken," Kebinatshipi told Newsday on the BBC World Service.

"If I stay focused, if I stay injury free, everything is possible.

"I was very, very happy about the performance. [Running] 43.5 at my age is something else."

Kebinatshipi's victory saw him become the first man from his country to land a world title, following in the footsteps of Amantle Montsho, who won the women's 400m in Daegu in 2011.

However, he says his performance in Japan came as a surprise, having narrowly missed out on the Olympic final at Paris 2024.

"Honestly, my goal was to go there (Tokyo) and reach the final only because [I] missed the final at the Olympics.

"This was my motivation.

"Looking at my age, I didn't have any pressure of competing for a medal.

"I was just planning to start competing for a medal at the 2028 Olympics. So, things came early."

Push ups in tribute to Makwala

In a picture taken almost at track level, Collen Kebinatshipi, wearing a blue running vest, black shorts with the number five on the side, a blue running sleeve covering part of his right arm and orange shoes, is seen holding the top of a push-up pose on a damp running track. Blurred in the background are athletics scoreboards, advertising hoardings and the lower tiers of a crowd seen across the field of competition at the 2025 World Championships in TokyoGetty Images

Kebinatshipi performed push-ups on the Tokyo track immediately after his 400m victory

Kebinatshipi underlined his talents when he ran a personal best – and a world lead time - of 43.61s in the semi-finals.

His compatriots Lee Bhekempilo Eppi and Bayapo Ndori also made it through to the 400m final, but Kebinatshipi was comfortable knowing that the attention would be on him.

"Coming [in] to the final, everyone knew that I was the favourite," he said.

"I didn't want to disappoint my coach. I didn't want to change any race plans that I used on the semis.

"I applied the same strategy and I knew if I do the same thing I did on the semis, I'm going to get a gold."

And, after sealing top spot on the podium, Kebinatshipi celebrated with push-ups inside a soggy National Stadium to pay homage to compatriot Isaac Makwala, who was part of the Botswana relay team which won 4x400m bronze at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Makwala famously first performed push-ups on a rainy track to prove his fitness after having to compete solo in the 200m heats at the 2017 World Championships, having controversially been denied his place in the 400m final after a norovirus outbreak in London.

"Honestly, I was really exhausted but I kept my promise to my role model Isaac," said Kebinatshipi.

"I told him 'If I win this race, I'm going to dedicate this celebration to you' because he used to do the celebration during his time.

"The little energy that was left, I used it for the push-ups."

Relay success prompts national celebrations

Collen Kebinatshipi, Bayapo Ndori, Letsile Tebogo and Lee Bhekempilo Eppi, all wearing blue running vests and black shorts, each hold a Botswana flag behind them while standing on a wet running track. Kebinatshipi and Tebogo are both barefoot while Eppi wears a white headband. Stands of a packed stadium are seen in the distance behind themGetty Images

Kebinatshipi and his 4x400m relay team-mates were celebrated on their return to Botswana with a national holiday declared

And it proved to be a doubly memorable trip to Japan for Kebinatshipi, who secured his second gold medal when he ran the anchor leg in Botswana's successful 4x400m relay.

The team, which included Eppi, Ndori and 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, beat the United States and South Africa by just seven hundredths of a second in wet conditions.

"The team was really relying on me at that moment because I was the fastest," Kebinatshipi said.

"And after winning the flat race they trusted me so much. I went to that final with a lot of motivation, with the positive vibes."

The relays have provided rich pickings for Botswana in recent years, with the country's men securing 4x400m gold at the World Athletics Relays last year and then silver at Paris 2024.

The team were celebrated on their return to Gaborone, with a public holiday declared to mark their victory.

"It's amazing. Everyone was happy," Kebinatshipi said.

"Now, going forward, it shows that my life is changing.

"I still have to focus because this was just a start of what will happen in the next 10 years, looking at my age."

Related topics