Imagine this: it’s May 11, 2025, at the World Relays in China, a place where athletic dreams either soar or crash. Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay team stepped onto the track, and you could almost feel the weight of their nation on their shoulders. But honestly, hardly anyone was even looking at them. Expectations were rock bottom, and the air was thick with doubts. Their incredible Olympic medalists—that powerhouse trio of Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi—were nowhere to be seen. These were the very stars who had earned Botswana that stunning silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, running a mind-blowing 2:54.53, which was, like, the third-fastest time ever! Without them, most people just figured Botswana would barely make a ripple. But they hardly knew what was in store for them.
In a jaw-dropping turn of events, this underdog squad clocked a season’s best 2:58.27 – a time that practically screamed big things were coming for the World Championships in Tokyo. The team finished third, just behind South Africa (2:57.50) and Belgium (2:58.19). The squad, initially doubted by naysayers, showed up with all its might and gave it back with their performance on track. How did this crew of perceived unknowns defy all the odds and steal the show?
The race itself was a pure masterclass in sheer grit and incredible teamwork. Botswana’s quartet—Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Justice Oratile, Kabo David Rankgwe, and Leungo Scotch—ran a blistering 2:58.27, with baton exchanges so sharp you practically hear the snap, reflected in their lightning-fast 0.161-second reaction time. Eppie, a super versatile runner with experience in both the 400m and 200m, set the tone with a fiery lead-off leg that just screamed confidence.
You mean to tell me Botswana ran 2:58.27s without Tebogo, Ndori, and Kebinatshipi?!
The World Champs is going to be very exciting indeed. #WorldRelays
— Owen (@_OwenM_) May 11, 2025
Justice Oratile powered through the second leg, keeping that momentum alive and well. Kabo David Rankgwe held steady on the third leg, making sure they didn’t lose an inch of ground, before handing off to Leungo Scotch, a seasoned veteran from Botswana’s 2024 World Relays-winning team. Scotch anchored with the kind of fierce determination that Botswana fans have come to expect, crossing the line in a time that wasn’t far off the 2:59.11 world lead Botswana set in 2024 with their fully star-studded lineup. But seriously, what does this unexpected performance tell us about how deep Botswana’s track program goes? And how severely does the star’s absence impact?
Letsile Tebogo’s withdrawal from the World Relays hit hard
Let’s talk about something that rattled the track world: Letsile Tebogo, Botswana’s incredible sprinting superstar and the first of his country to ever snatch an Olympic gold in any sport, sent shockwaves when he pulled out of the World Relays on May 11, 2025, over in China. The news broke on May 5, according to Pulse Sports, when the Botswana Athletics Association quietly announced that Tebogo, along with his teammates Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, had withdrawn, simply citing “personal reasons.” Tebogo, who had anchored Botswana to a stunning silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was a monumental loss for the team. Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering: what on earth could make such a huge star step away from a crucial event like this?
Tebogo, Ndori, and Kebinatshipi were vital to Botswana’s Olympic success. Their withdrawal from the World Relays, which was a crucial qualifier for the World Championships in Tokyo, definitely raised some eyebrows, especially since the event at Guangdong Olympic Stadium was a golden chance to cement Botswana’s rising status in global athletics. Despite that huge setback, the remaining squad rose to the occasion and delivered when it mattered, successfully fetching a ticket to Tokyo for Botswana. But even as fans celebrate this incredible resilience, one big question still hangs in the air: will Tebogo and his teammates manage to sort out their issues in time to lead Botswana to glory in Tokyo? We’re all hoping so!
The post Left Stranded by Letsile Tebogo and Co, Botswana Prove Critics Wrong With Strong Comeback at World Relays appeared first on EssentiallySports.