27 Jul 2026

In a major boost for the future of African athletics, Botswana national track and field coach Justice Dipeba has been awarded a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, specialising in Sports Leadership, at the University of Kentucky.

Beyond academic pursuits, Dipeba will work directly alongside the University of Kentucky Track and Field programme, a powerhouse famed for producing Olympic champions and world record holders.

The transition represents a full-circle moment for Dipeba, a celebrated former sprinter who served as Botswana's flagbearer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Over the past decade as a senior national coach, he has masterminded the rise of Botswana's sprinting revolution, engineering the transformation of international brand Isaac Makwala, whom he guided to a 2017 Diamond League 400m final victory, African and Commonwealth titles, and blistering sub-44-second performances.

Dipeba's elite coaching pedigree also includes mentoring continental standouts like Christine Botlogetswe, Boitumelo Masilo, and Zibane Ngozi, steering Botswana’s men’s relay teams to historic global podiums.

Now, he enters an elite training environment in Lexington shaped by world-class icons who continue to train on-site.

Among these athletes are Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the transcendent world record holder and multi-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400m hurdles, and Masai Russell, an elite international hurdler and standout university alumna.

The training grounds also feature Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the fastest hurdles specialists in history, alongside Alexis Holmes, a World Championship medalist and elite global sprinter.

In an interview, Dipeba said he felt privileged to have been given the opportunity, adding that the presence of these elite athletes creates an exceptional high-performance environment, making him incredibly excited to learn, collaborate, and further develop himself both professionally and personally.

"This academic and professional journey is poised to yield massive dividends for sports development back home, especially as the nation continues to assert itself as a global track and field destination," he said.

Coach Dipeba thanked the University of Botswana, where he had served long-term as a sports officer and elite head coach, for its foundational role in securing this opportunity.

Furthermore, he thanked the university for the support it had provided, adding that their investment in his growth was deeply appreciated.

Looking ahead, Dipeba remained committed to ensuring that the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained in Kentucky would ultimately benefit his home institution, local student-athletes, and the broader Botswana sporting community. ENDS