25 May 2026

Botswana’s 400-meter runner, Collen Kebinatshipi, has transitioned from a global competitor on the sidelines to a dominant force on the world stage.

His historic individual breakthrough at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo not only rewrote the narrative, but also signified his triumph over imposter syndrome.

He signaled his dominance on the sport world after anchoring Botswana’s 4x400m men relay team to glory at the Debwana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.

On Saturday, he further cemented his elite status at the Xiamen Diamond League, storming to victory with a world-leading time and meeting record of 43.92.

A defining strength of Kebinatshipi is his immense mental focus; he locks into his own lane, completely undisturbed by competitors ahead of him as he zones into his race plan.

Boasting this laser focus, a fluid running style, and a devastating kick in the final 60 metres, he possesses a rare athletic prowess that will likely torment his competitors for decades to come, provided he remains healthy.

Kebinatshipi, aka ‘GoFlow’ simply flows through the entire race, rarely struggling to shift into another gear, making the quarter-mile event look effortless.

In that regard, Athletics Coach Justice Dipeba said in an interview that Kebinatshipi was slowly proving that he was one of the best 400-metre runners in the world.

“If there is an athlete who is threatening the 400m World Record, it is Collen. But then again, breaking a World Record is a big moment, and it will need the right time, the right place, and the right competition in order for it to happen. But yes, it is within his reach,” he said.

Dipeba praised his speed, noting that Kebinatshipi was currently the fastest athlete in the world even though the season had just started.

“This is a clear indication that he is capable of dropping even faster times as the season progresses.”

According to Dipeba, the athlete's running style was unique and it was difficult to compare him to any other runner.

“If you look at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic men's 400m final, I think Quincy Watts of the United States is closer to Collen’s running style. He ran with such a fluid flow like Collen, but maybe he was not as agile,” he said.

Also at the Xiamen meet, Bayapo Ndori clocked 44.88 to finish fifth in a highly competitive race, while Olympic champion, Letsile Tebogo recorded a Season Best of 10.10 to finish eighth in the men’s 100 metres.

The result marks Tebogo’s second Diamond League appearance of the 2026 season, following his race at the Shanghai meeting the previous week.

 The 10.10 SB improves upon his previous mark of 10.12 in Shanghai as he builds toward upcoming Meets. ENDS