Last September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo still feels pretty fresh, doesn’t it? But amid all that excitement, did you notice one country quietly walking away with not one, but two gold medals?
Yes—that country was Botswana.
By now, it’s probably fair to say Botswana is no longer a surprise name in the athletics world, but a serious contender.
Let’s rewind for a second:
Gold in the men’s 400m 🥇
And then—gold again in the men’s 4×400m relay 🥇
That makes it Botswana’s first-ever two gold medals at a global championship. A historic achievement.
Unsurprisingly, bars across Botswana were absolutely buzzing.
And here’s what makes it even more impressive:
the country has a population of just around 2.2 million—roughly the same as Brisbane. On top of that, athletes from a typically dry climate powered through the rain without losing their edge. As a Botswana fan, that was genuinely something special to watch.
And now, following that incredible moment—
In May 2026, the World Athletics Relays are finally heading to their home turf: Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.
Around 40 countries are expected to compete, including South Africa, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, and of course the host nation Botswana. The United States, whose participation was once uncertain, is now confirmed, and teams from across the globe will be making the journey to compete. Now here’s where it gets even more interesting.
The title sponsor is Debswana, the joint venture between the Botswana government and De Beers, the world-famous diamond company.
On top of that, local banks and the state-owned Okavango Diamond Company have stepped in with financial backing.
In short, this is a full national effort. Botswana is all in.
And for good reason.
This year marks Botswana’s 60th anniversary of independence.
To celebrate, they’ve launched the “Diamond Leadership 60th Anniversary Initiative” and yes, they’ve gone all out.
The medals will feature natural diamonds — not lab-grown ones.
Think of it as a little extra sparkle.
The diamonds are already embedded.
Now all that’s left is for the athletes to “dig them out.” 💎
And fittingly, Botswana is a country that has built much of its growth over the past 60 years on its diamond industry.
Tickets still seem to be available, so if this has caught your interest, this might be the perfect time to visit Botswana.
Official event page (tickets)
https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26
And while you’re there, don’t miss the chance to experience a proper safari. 🐘🦒