Nick Iwanyshyn

It was a historic night for Botswana on Thursday at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, as 21-year-old Busang Collen Kebinatshipi captured the country’s first-ever world title in the men’s 400m.

Kebinatshipi stormed to gold in a world-leading 43.53 seconds—and after crossing the finish line, he dropped to the track and knocked out 10 push-ups to celebrate.

Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi puts his push-up strength to the test after dominating the men’s 400m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Photo: Nick Iwanyshyn

Kebinatshipi entered the final as the fastest qualifier, but few expected the young sprinter to seize the moment so decisively.

From the gun, he built an early lead through 200m and never looked back.

Veteran Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago came charging out of Lane 2 in the final 100m, but Kebinatshipi held him off to secure gold for his country.

Richards earned his third career world championship medal, and his first in eight years, with a new national record of 43.72 seconds.

Botswana also won bronze through Bayapo Ndori, who clocked a season’s best 44.20.

This marked just the second time in history that Team USA failed to medal in the men’s 400m, an event the Americans have traditionally dominated.

Kebinatshipi’s 43.53 now ranks him 10th on the all-time list, and his post-race push-ups suggested he may still have had energy to spare after one of track’s most punishing events.

Born in 2004, Kebinatshipi is also the youngest male track athlete to win gold at these championships so far.

See here for full results from the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Canadian Running’s coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships is brought to you by ASICS Canada.