Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay team delivered a performance that defied the odds at the World Athletics Relays, China on May 11, 2025. With Olympic heroes Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi absent, most assumed Botswana’s campaign would fizzle out in the heats. But what followed was a powerful performance that turned heads.
Running without their Olympic medal-winning trio, Botswana’s quartet delivered a sensational comeback to secure third place in the final, clocking a season’s best of 2:58.27—just fractions behind South Africa (2:57.50) and Belgium (2:58.19).
A Race to Remember
The team, made up of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Justice Oratile, Kabo David Rankgwe, and Leungo Scotch, ran with purpose and precision. Eppie set the tone with a confident opening leg, showcasing his versatility and experience in both the 400m and 200m. Oratile built on that strong foundation in the second leg, keeping Botswana firmly in the mix.
Rankgwe maintained the momentum through the third leg before handing over to the experienced Leungo Scotch who anchored the team with a fierce and focused run. Their clean baton exchanges was anchored by a sharp 0.161-second reaction time.
What made the result even more remarkable was its proximity to Botswana’s national record (2:54.53), set during their silver-medal run at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a fully-loaded lineup that included Tebogo. Even without their headline names, the squad came within striking distance of world-leading territory.
Tebogo’s Sudden Withdrawal
The build-up to the World Relays was rocked on May 5 when the Botswana Athletics Association confirmed the withdrawal of Tebogo, Ndori, and Kebinatshipi due to “personal reasons.” Tebogo’s absence, in particular, was headline news. As the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist and the anchor in the Paris relay triumph, his unavailability left fans and analysts stunned.
The timing was critical, the World Relays in China served as a major qualifying event for the upcoming World Championships. Many feared the team wouldn’t recover from the blow.
But Botswana’s performance flipped the script. The remaining athletes rose to the occasion, showing depth, resilience, and belief.
With a Tokyo berth now secured, the big question is whether Tebogo and his fellow Olympic medalists will return to action in time to lead Botswana’s charge on the global stage once again.
