Collen Kebinatshipi

Collen Kebinatshipi
Kebinatshipi at the 2023 African Games
Personal information
Full nameBusang Collen Kebinatshipi
NationalityBotswana
Born (2004-02-13) 13 February 2004 (age 22)
Hukuntsi, Botswana
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Sport
SportAthletics
Events
400 m, 200 m, 100 m
Achievements and titles
Personal bests100 m: 9.89 (Gaborone, 2026)
200 m: 20.08 (Gaborone, 2025)
400 m: 43.39 (Budapest, 2026) NR
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Botswana
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place2024 Paris4 × 400 m relay
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 Tokyo400 m
Gold medal – first place2025 Tokyo4 × 400 m relay
World Ultimate Championship
First place2026 Budapest400 m
Diamond League
First place2026 Brussels400 m
World Relays
Gold medal – first place2024 Nassau4 × 400 m relay
Gold medal – first place2026 Gaborone4 × 400 m relay
African Games
Silver medal – second place2023 Accra4 × 400 m relay
Silver medal – second place2023 AccraMixed 4 × 400 m relay
African Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Saint Pierre4 × 400 m relay
Gold medal – first place2022 Saint PierreMixed 4 × 400 m relay
Gold medal – first place2024 Douala4 × 400 m relay
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Nairobi4 × 400 m relay
African U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Ndola400 m
Gold medal – first place2023 Ndola4 × 400 m relay

Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (born 13 February 2004) is a track and field athlete from Botswana. He is the reigning World Champion in the 400 metres, having won the title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. He also ran the anchor leg as Botswana won in the men's 4 × 400 relay at the championships. He placed second in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Biography

Junior athlete and senior debut

Kebinatshipi was part of the Botswana men's 4 × 400 m relay team that won at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi. In April 2022, he lowered his personal best for the 400 metres to 45.20 seconds. In August 2022, he won as part of the Botswana men's 4 × 400 m relay team and the mixed 4 × 400 m relay team at the 2022 African Championships.

He won the 400 m at the 2023 African U18 and U20 Championships in Athletics in Ndola, Zambia, in April 2023, running a championship record time of 44.91 seconds. In June 2023, he ran 45.01 to win an international meeting in Hengelo, Netherlands beating an international field, including the likes of Vernon Norwood and Zakithi Nene.

Competing at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he lowered his personal best in the 400 metres to 44.80 to qualify for the semi-final.

2024: Olympic medalist

He ran as part of the victorious Botswanan 4 × 400 m relay team which qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the 2024 World Relays Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.

He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics over 400 metres in August 2024, running a personal best time to reach the semi-finals. He also competed in the men's 4 × 400 m relay at the Games, winning the silver medal with the Botswana relay team.

2025: World Champion

He ran 44.53 seconds to finish third in the 400 metres at the 2025 Xiamen Diamond League event in China, in April 2025. He also finished third in the 400 metres at the 2025 Shanghai Diamond League event in China on 3 May 2025, in a time of 44.63 seconds. He ran 44.51 seconds the place third in the 400 metres at the Diamond League event at the 2025 Golden Gala in Rome on 6 June 2025.

In April 2025, Kebinatshipi finished second in the 200 metres event at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix, which qualified him for the World Championships. In July 2025, he placed second over 200 metres in the men's U23 race at the 2025 Herculis, behind race winner Gout Gout, running 20.28 seconds. He placed seventh over 400 metres at the Diamond League Final in Zurich on 28 August.

Kebinatshipi competing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships

In September 2025, he became the world champion over 400 metres competing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. He ran a season's best 44.48 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals, before winning his semi-final in a personal best 43.61 seconds. The final he won in another personal best and Botswana national record of 43.53 seconds. He later won a gold medal as part of the Botswana team in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay.

2026: Diamond League record holder, Ultimate champion

Kebinatshipi ran 44.55 seconds in his first 400 m race of the year in March 2026, also running a wind-assisted 100 m time of 9.75 seconds that month. In April 2026, he ran 9.89 seconds for the 100 metres in both the semi-final (0.8 m/s) and in winning the final (1.2 m/s) of the Botswana Championships. In doing so, he became only the fourth man in history to break 44 seconds for 400 m and the 10-second barrier in the 100 m, after Wayde van Niekerk, Michael Norman and Fred Kerley.

Competing at the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, he ran in the final of the men's 4 × 400 m relay as the Botswana team ran a championship and national record of 2:54.47 to win the gold medal and move to third on the world all-time list. On 23 May, he secured the first Diamond League win of his career, running a meeting record of 43.92 at the 2026 Xiamen Diamond League. On 28 June, Kebinatshipi broke the Diamond League record with 43.54 to win the 400 metres at the 2026 Meeting de Paris. On 4 July, he ran 44.00 to win at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic. On 10 July, he ran a national record of 43.44 to improve his own Diamond League record and move to joint-sixth on the world all-time list at the 2026 Herculis Diamond League event in Monaco. On 23 August, he ran 43.59 seconds to win in the Diamond League over 400 m at the 2026 Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Silesia, Poland. On 4 September, Kebinatshipi won the 400 m at the 2026 Diamond League Final in Brussels with a time of 43.40 seconds, improving on his Diamond League record and tying Quincy Hall for 5th fastest all time in the event. The following week, he ran a new national record 43.39 seconds to win the inaugural World Ultimate Championship in Budapest. With the win, Kebinatshipi capped an unbeaten season in the 400 metres.

Statistics

Grand Slam Track results
SlamRace groupEventPl.TimePrize money
2025 Kingston SlamLong sprints 400 m4th45.15US$15,000
200 m6th21.08

References

  1. 1 2 "KEBINATSHIPI Busang Collen". Paris 2024 Olympics. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. (alternate link)
  2. ↑ "Mokgweetsi Masisi congratulates 4x400m relay team for winning at the World under-20 athletics championships". gambakwe.com. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Road to Cali 22 – the state of play with one month to go". World Athletics. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2023. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi
  4. ↑ Kolantsho, Calistus (4 June 2022). "Strong team for Africa Senior Champs". mmegi.bw. Anthony Pesela (400m) and the upcoming talented Collen Kebinatshipi (400m) are also part of the team.
  5. ↑ "New crop of athletes emerge". Guardian Sun. 17 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Kenyans impress in Africa Athletics Junior". nation.africa. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi from Botswana timed 44.91 to win the race
  7. ↑ "400m Results". sportronics.co.zm. 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Jonckheere, Karien (6 June 2023). "AFRICA WATCH - Kipyegon WR leads African charge". Supersport.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023. Three athletes from Botswana were part of the men's 400m field at the FBK Games, with an age gap of 17 years between the oldest (Isaac Mawala) and youngest (Busang Collen Kebinatshipi) ... The 19-year-old won in a time of 45.01
  9. ↑ "Men's 400m Results: World Athletics Championships 2023". Watch Athletics. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "4X400 METRES RELAY". World Athletics. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Men's 400m Hurdles Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  12. ↑ "Men's 4 x 400 Metres Relay - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Collen Kebinatshipi". NBC Olympics.
  14. ↑ "Results - Xiamen Diamond League 2025". Watch Athletics. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  15. ↑ "Results - Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League 2025". Watch Athletics. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "Results - Rome Diamond League Golden Gala 2025". Watch Athletics. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Kebinatshipi to shift from 400m to 200m: Olympic silver medallist, Collen Kebinatshipi, has said he will shift from his preferred 400m to run in the 200m in the next two years". Mmegi Online. 18 April 2025. Kebinatshipi decided to compete in the 200m over the weekend at the FNB Golden Grand Prix. In an unfamiliar terrain, Kebinatshipi stormed to 20.13s in the 200m finishing second in the race which saw him qualify for the World Championships.
  18. ↑ "Meeting Herculis 2025: Gout Gout runs quick 20.10 into headwind to win Monaco u23 men's 200m race". Olympics.com. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  19. ↑ Collett, Jasmine (28 August 2025). "Results - Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League 2025". Watch Athletics. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "Kebinatshipi clocks 9.89 at Botswana Championships". World Athletics. 3 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Botswana bring World Relays to epic close with historic men's 4x400m win". World Athletics. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Yan and Russell reign supreme in Xiamen with second-best marks in history". World Athletics. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "Werro, Kebinatshipi and Paulino break Diamond League records in Paris". World Athletics. 28 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "Records fall as top-class clashes light up Eugene". World Athletics. 4 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Wanyonyi breaks world 1000m record with 2:11.83 in Monaco". World Athletics. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Alekna throws Diamond League record, Dos Santos and Jefferson-Wooden win key clashes in Silesia". World Athletics. 23 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  29. ↑ Majendie, Matt (4 September 2026). "Kebinatshipi brings curtain down on first night of Diamond League Final". World Athletics. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  30. ↑ Nassuna, Margaret (4 September 2026). "Collen Kebinatshipi Breaks 400m Diamond League Record In Brussels". FloTrack. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  31. ↑ "KEBINATSHIPI RUNS RACE OF HIS LIFE TO WIN ULTIMATE 400M IN BUDAPEST". World Athletics. 12 September 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  32. ↑ "JEFFERSON-WOODEN WINS EPIC 100M BATTLE AS ULTIMATE SATURDAY NIGHT DELIVERS". Athletics Weekly. 12 September 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  33. ↑ "Grand Slam Track Results". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved 5 April 2025.