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South Africa Clinches 4x400m Bronze in Tokyo, Ending Eight-Year Worlds Medal Drought

South Africa clocked 2:57.83, losing silver to the U.S. by two thousandths of a second.

World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 - Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - September 21, 2025 Botswana players celebrate after winning the gold medal REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 - Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - September 21, 2025 Botswana's Lee Bhekempilo Eippie and Qatar's Ammar Ismail Yahia Ibrahim in action REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski
World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 - Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - September 21, 2025 Botswana's Letsile Tebogo in action REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 - Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - September 21, 2025 Botswana's Busang Collen Kebinatshipi crosses the line to win the final ahead of Rai Benjamin of the U.S. and South Africa's Zakithi Nene REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Overview

  • Botwsana won the men’s 4x400m in 2:57.76 in heavy rain to become the first African champions in the event.
  • The United States took silver after a blanket finish, sharing 2:57.83 with South Africa and prevailing by 0.002 seconds.
  • South Africa’s quartet featured Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk and Zakithi Nene in the final.
  • The result followed a heat-winning 2:58.51 and delivered the nation’s first World Championships podium since 2017.
  • Earlier on Sunday, the men’s 4x100m team was eliminated after a solo time trial in 38.64 seconds following a successful appeal over a collision.