Letsile Tebogo stepped on to the track alongside his teammates, bearing the weight of a nation and a continent on his shoulders. Together with the men&rsquo;s 4x400m relay team, he turned belief into performance, lifted the hopes of a nation, and turned an Olympic bronze from Tokyo in 2021 into gold at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. A journey of patience and pride, and a nation lifted.
Now, with 100 days to go, Botswana prepares to host the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 where the host nation will be on the hunt for further honours.
&ldquo;Once we get into the team, it&rsquo;s only one personality,&rdquo; said Olympic 200m champion Tebogo. &ldquo;The teamwork that we have, the mentality that we have when we are going into the 4x400m &ndash; now it&rsquo;s teamwork. We&rsquo;re doing all this for the country, for everybody who&rsquo;s watching and in support of Botswana.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s something that I&rsquo;ll always look back on and cherish.&rdquo;
Tebogo&rsquo;s season had been impacted by injury, but when he got to Tokyo he was determined to still compete in all three events &ndash; the 100m, the 200m and the 4x400m.
And forming part of the team that claimed Africa&rsquo;s first world 4x400m title was the perfect end to the championships for the 22-year-old, who rebounded after being disqualified for a false start in the 100m final and missing out on a 200m medal by one place, despite clocking 19.65.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m forever grateful for my teammates, for the confidence that they gave me,&rdquo; he said in an <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/world-athletics-exclusives/697208634e2827b202b61d62" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exclusive World Athletics video feature</a>.
&ldquo;They boosted me into stepping up because it was just more of a horrible season for me. The injuries that we had during that season, we had too many starts and stops.
&ldquo;After what happened in the 100m, in the 200m where you know you had true potential to bring up a medal and it didn&rsquo;t happen, the confidence went downhill, but they managed to pull it back up the hill again.&rdquo;
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/world-athletics-exclusives/697208634e2827b202b61d62" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/697250d7875be44a09b6904b.jpg" alt="Pride of the nation &ndash; Letsile Tebogo" /></a>
Racing in the pouring rain Tebogo ran the second leg in the 4x400m final, taking over from Lee Bhekempilo Eppie and running a strong lap before handing the baton to Bayapo Ndori. In a thrilling finish, individual 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi chased down USA&rsquo;s 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin and edged ahead in the closing stages to get gold on the line.
&ldquo;I had to lock in differently to know that this is not my individual event &ndash; I am carrying three other people&rsquo;s hopes with me. So, why not? I shouldn&rsquo;t disappoint them. No matter how tired I am, no matter what&rsquo;s going through my mind,&rdquo; added Tebogo.
&ldquo;I just stepped up &ndash; it was the team that pushed me through.&rdquo;
Tebogo also formed part of the Botswana 4x400m teams that clinched Olympic silver in Paris in 2024 and won at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, The Bahamas, that same year.
The next edition of the World Athletics Relays heads to his home soil on 2-3 May.
Reflecting on his nation's success, the World Athletics Kids&rsquo; Athletics ambassador added: &ldquo;It means a lot because they know we are inspiring a lot of kids in Botswana. Even the elderly trying to exercise, trying to keep healthy. That&rsquo;s the most important thing about Botswana.
&ldquo;We are going to continue to dominate the 4x400m for as long as possible.&rdquo;
Interview and video production by Marta Gorczyńska for World Athletics
</div>

World Athletics Relays

A journey of patience and pride, and a nation lifted.

Pride of the nation – Letsile Tebogo

The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/timetable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">timetable</a> for the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 has been published, as Botswana&rsquo;s capital prepares to welcome the world&rsquo;s fastest athletes on 2-3 May.
The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/stats-zone/road-to/7216920?eventId=204594">&lsquo;road to&rsquo; tracking tool</a> has also been launched, to help athletes, media and fans follow the qualification process for the global event. Searchable by discipline, federation and qualification status, the tool provides a real-time view of each event over the course of the qualification period.
The programme includes six events:
Women&rsquo;s 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay Men&rsquo;s 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay Mixed 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay
The weekend will kick off with the heats of the mixed 4x100m and the mixed 4x400m, and conclude with the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x400m finals.
The top eight teams in the relay events at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 secured their spots for Gaborone. The remaining places will be filled via top lists from 1 January 2025 to 5 April 2026, with host nation Botswana automatically entered in all events. A maximum of 24 teams will be entered in each event. In the mixed 4x100m, all 24 teams will be selected from top lists.
As well as World Relays titles, teams will be racing for qualification for both the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
There are qualification opportunities on both days of competition in Gaborone. Six teams in both the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m in Gaborone will qualify for the 2026 Ultimate Championship, while 12 teams in every event in Gaborone will qualify for the 2027 World Championships.
On day one, eight teams in each of the six relay events will qualify for Beijing through qualification round one. These teams will then contest the final to compete for World Relays titles and prize money. Another four teams in each of the six events will secure their spots for Beijing through qualification round two on day two.
The second day of competition will also see six teams in each of the two mixed relay events qualify for Budapest.
The World Relays in Gaborone will be the first time that Botswana hosts a World Athletics Series event. It will be the eighth edition of the World Relays since the event launched in The Bahamas in 2014.
World Athletics

The timetable for the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 has been published, as Botswana’s capital prepares to welcome the world’s fastest athletes on 2-3 May.

Timetable and 'road to' tool launch for World Relays Gaborone 26

The qualification systems for three 2026 World Athletics Series events have been published, following their approval by the World Athletics Council in Tokyo:
&bull; World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 (20-22 March 2026) &bull; World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 (2-3 May 2026) &bull; World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 (5-9 August 2026) 
The qualification window for the World Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, runs from 1 November 2025 to 8 March 2026, with qualification based on entry standards and top indoor performance lists.&nbsp;
Individual athletes (except for combined events) can qualify in one of three ways:
&bull; By achieving the entry standard within the qualification period &bull; By World Indoor Tour wild card &bull; By virtue of their position in the top performances list
A Road to Kujawy Pomorze list will be published every week on the World Athletics website, starting from 1 December 2025.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/68e618104372a24493d75cf0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26 qualification system and entry standards</a> 
The top eight teams in the relay events at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 automatically qualified for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. The remaining spots will be filled via top lists from 1 January 2025 to 5 April 2026, with host nation Botswana automatically entered in all events. A maximum of 24 teams will be entered in each event. In the mixed 4x100m, all 24 teams will be selected from top lists.
The World Relays in Gaborone will be the main qualification event for relay events at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The top six teams in the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m in Gaborone qualify for Budapest, while the top 12 teams in every event in Gaborone qualify for Beijing.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/69813399354a558fc3af16b6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full WRE Gaborone 26 qualification system</a> 
For the World U20 Championships in Oregon, USA, the qualification system is solely based on entry standards, with a qualification period running from 1 October 2025 to 26 July 2026. The event will feature the addition of the mixed 4x100m and the 5000m race walk, which will replace the 10,000m race walk.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/68e6185d4372a24493d75cf6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full WU20 Oregon 26 qualification system and entry standards</a>
&nbsp;
This press release was updated on 2 February 2026 to include a new version of the WRE Gaborone 26 qualification system
&nbsp;

The qualification systems for three 2026 World Athletics Series events have been published, following their approval by the World Athletics Council in Tokyo

Qualification systems for WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26, WRE Gaborone 26 and WU20 Oregon 26 published

The World Athletics Council confirmed the hosts for three World Athletics Series events and made a series of other decisions during the 237th World Athletics Council Meeting in Nanjing, China, on 24-25 March.
The World Athletics Council has awarded the 2026 World Athletics Relays to Gaborone in Botswana (2-3 May 2026) and the 2028 World Athletics Relays to Nassau in The Bahamas (22-23 April 2028). The 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships will be staged in Bras&iacute;lia in Brazil (12 April 2026).
&ldquo;I am delighted that Botswana&rsquo;s commitment to athletics, both through their elite athletes and their event hosting capabilities, has led them to hosting the World Athletics Relays next year,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. &ldquo;This is the fourth World Championship event Africa has staged over the last decade, in addition to the Diamond League and Continental Tour Gold events, and we are seeing a real increase in experience, expertise and skills.
&ldquo;We are determined to support Member Federations in their ambitions to grow through hosting our events. Both The Bahamas and Brazil have hosted events in the past and their talented athletes will, I know, generate local and international excitement.&rdquo;
The World Athletics Relays in Gaborone will see Botswana host a World Athletics Series event for the first time. The country&rsquo;s capital city held a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting for the first time in 2023 and this year&rsquo;s Botswana Golden Grand Prix, taking place in Gaborone on 12 April, will also be a Gold-level meeting.
Jacob Kelebeng, Minister of Sport and Arts, said: &ldquo;This is a moment of immense pride for Botswana. The World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 will ignite a national passion, drawing the world to our shores and showcasing our unique spirit. We humbly welcome athletes and fans alike, knowing that this event will inspire generations and leave a lasting legacy of triumph and unity.&rdquo;
The World Athletics Relays will return to Nassau for the fifth time in 2028, following the city&rsquo;s hosting of the event in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2024.
Mario Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, said: &ldquo;The Government of The Bahamas is delighted to host the world back to our shores for yet another edition of The Bahamas World Athletics Relays. We have had fond memories of great competition, fun and excitement, and we can't wait to for you to come back.&rdquo;
The 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships will be the fourth time that Brazil has hosted a World Athletics Series event, following the 1989 World 15km Road Race for Women in Rio de Janeiro, the&nbsp;1998 World Road Relay Championships in Manaus and the 2008 World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro then hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, and 10 years on the world&rsquo;s best race walkers will head to Bras&iacute;lia.
Renato Junqueira, Secretary of Sports and Recreation of the Federal District, said: &ldquo;Bras&iacute;lia is ready to walk with the world. Our city has all the conditions to host an event of the magnitude of the World Race Walking Team Championships. We are the capital of Brazil, we have sports infrastructure, efficient logistics, security and an iconic setting for the competition. The warm welcome from the Brazilian public and the sporting tradition of the Federal District make Bras&iacute;lia the ideal choice for this great event.&rdquo;
<h2>Eligibility in the female category</h2>
Preserving the integrity of competition in the female category is a fundamental principle of the sport of athletics. The majority of stakeholders consulted last month on the proposed new eligibility conditions for the female category agreed that allowing only biological female athletes to compete in the female category was essential to maintaining fairness.
On reviewing the consultation, the Council approved the recommendations from the Working Group on Gender Diverse Athletes to:
&bull; Formally affirm the design of and goals for the female category.&nbsp; &bull; Revise the eligibility regulations so that they are consistent with the design and goals.&nbsp; &bull; Merge the DSD and Transgender Regulations and, if the effect is to restrict opportunities for DSD athletes, adopt measures to address the reliance interests of those who are currently in the pipeline.&nbsp; &bull; Adopt a pre-clearance requirement for all athletes competing in the female category.&nbsp; &bull; Consider forward initiatives, including to support elite gender diverse XY athletes.&nbsp;
Over the next few weeks the new regulations will be drafted, and the pre-clearance SRY (a genetic surrogate for a Y chromosome) test provider, process and timeline will be agreed.
Any new DSD and Transgender Regulations will be implemented with the following standing commitments:
&bull; World Athletics does not judge or question gender identity; &bull; World Athletics respects and preserves the dignity and privacy of individuals; &bull; World Athletics strictly observes confidentiality obligations and complies with data protection laws; &bull; World Athletics never has and never would impose any obligation to undergo surgery.
<h2>Working group on Belarus and Russian participation</h2>
The Council also approved the recommendation of the working group on Belarus and Russian participation that the current Council sanctions are adequate and do not need to be replaced, added to or varied unless either the current circumstances deteriorate significantly or there is a peace agreement. In anticipation of peace at some stage, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) continues to maintain Russian and Belarusian athletes in its International Testing Pool (ITP).
<h2>Coaching development</h2>
The Council agreed to explore the creation of a dedicated coaching body reporting to Council to promote coach representation, drive forward coaching specific projects, and align coaching priorities and interests to decisions made across the organisation. A proposal on the format and terms of reference for the new body will be developed and brought back to the Council as a priority.
<h2>Governance and gender leadership</h2>
Following the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/women-in-athletics/news/world-athletics-gender-leadership-focus-officials-coaches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strides made in gender leadership</a>, the World Athletics Gender Leadership Strategy 2025-2027 has been approved by the World Athletics Council and will be published shortly. Some of the priority action areas identified by the Gender Leadership Taskforce for the next three years include to sustain and grow the pipeline of female leaders for decision-making positions throughout athletics; to increase gender equity across administrators, referees and coaches; and to strengthen governance frameworks and initiate policy to embed gender equity.
World Athletics is committed to fostering gender equity across all aspects of the sport. The 2025-2027 Gender Leadership Strategy provides a clear roadmap to empower women, promote sustainable change, and position athletics as a global model for equity and inclusion. Through collaboration, innovation, and data-driven initiatives, this strategy aims to ensure lasting progress for women in athletics.
The World Athletics Council also considered, finalised and approved the proposed Guidelines on Member Federations &amp; Area Associations alignment to better governance principles that aim to foster a culture of better governance in athletics worldwide. The guidelines will be published shortly.
&ldquo;Over the last two days this hard-working Council has made a number of impactful decisions for our sport &ndash; further cementing our leadership position in the global sports arena,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;I am very proud of the important, and at times difficult, work World Athletics is doing. We never shy away from doing the right thing for our sport and our athletes.&rdquo;
<h2>Other competition updates</h2>
In other event news, the World Athletics Council approved the timetable for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26. The event, which will take place on 10 January 2026, will kick off with the mixed relay at 9:45am local time and end with the men&rsquo;s 10km from 12:20pm.
Saturday 10 January 2026 9:45am mixed relay 10:20am women&rsquo;s U20 6km 10:55am men&rsquo;s U20 8km 11:35am women&rsquo;s 10km 12:20pm men&rsquo;s 10km
Related to the relays, the World Athletics Council approved the running order for the 4x100m mixed relay at the upcoming World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 as woman, woman, man, man. This running order will be reviewed after the event in Guangzhou. Records for the 4x100m mixed relay will be recognised as of 1 January 2026 (with the inaugural performance to better the recognised world best performance as of the end of 2025). As well as forming part of the race programme for the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, the mixed 4x100m will be contested at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in 2026.
Following the announcement that the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/world-athletics-council-action-against-gender-based-violence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">half marathon and marathon will become the official senior road distances for race walking events</a>, it has been confirmed that those distances will be implemented as of 1 October 2025.
Changes to the World Athletics Race Walking Tour calendar will see the qualifying period &ndash; for the calculation of standings and corresponding awards &ndash; updated to being between 1 January and 31 December.
The 300m hurdles will become an official event, forming part of the Competition Rules &amp; Technical Rules. As such, it will serve all World Athletics statistical purposes, including world rankings towards which it will score as a similar event to the 400m hurdles. A list of world best performances will be kept, while conditions for setting an inaugural world record will be decided at a later stage, once the popularity of the event will have reached a meaningful level.
World Athletics

The World Athletics Council confirmed the hosts for three World Athletics Series events and made a series of other decisions during the 237th World Athletics Council Meeting in Nanjing on 24-25 March

Bahamas, Botswana and Brazil to host World Athletics Series events

<h1 style="color: #3399cc; text-align: center;">WRE Gaborone 26</h1>
<h1 style="color: #3399cc; text-align: center;">The world's relay stars head to the Diamond City!</h1>
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The world&rsquo;s fastest athletes are heading to Gaborone, Botswana, for the historic World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 on Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May 2026! This spectacular event, which we have playfully dubbed the 'World Relay Extravaganza', marks our nation's chance to stand on the global stage, showcasing both our world-class sporting facilities and the warmth of the Batswana people.
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From the explosive energy of the baton exchanges to the rhythm of the crowd's powerful pula chant, this is your opportunity to witness the world&rsquo;s best track athletes up close. Feel the heat of the competition as athletes from across the globe chase glory in the heart of the &lsquo;Diamond City&rsquo;.
&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t miss your chance to secure a front-row seat to this historic occasion. <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/tickets-gaborone26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tickets are on sale now.</a>
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&nbsp;

Jefferson-Wooden and Tebogo announced as Kids’ Athletics ambassadors

Stanbic Bank Botswana backs country’s first-ever World Athletics Relays with BWP 5 million commitment

Debswana announced as title sponsor of World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

World Athletics invites aspiring journalists from Botswana to apply for Media Academy ahead of World Relays

Tickets to the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 now on general sale