Botswana has declared a public holiday to celebrate the nation’s victory in the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The win marked the first time an African team has claimed the title in the event.

President Duma Boko hailed the gold medal as a “historic African win,” praising the athletes for their performance in an address delivered online. He announced Monday, 29 September, as a holiday in honour of the achievement—a day ahead of the country’s independence celebrations.

On Sunday, Botswana’s quartet of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi stunned the world, edging out the United States—winners of the last 10 world titles—in a rain-soaked race. South Africa secured the bronze medal.

“I’ll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion athletes,” President Boko said from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly. He described the victory as “electric,” noting that Botswana’s performance reflected its rising stature on the global stage.

The southern African nation finished fifth overall in the medal standings, behind the US, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Canada—its best-ever return, with two golds, one silver, and one bronze.

This follows another historic milestone last year, when sprint star Letsile Tebogo won Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s 200m at the Paris Games. His triumph also marked the first time an African athlete had won the event. Tens of thousands gathered at the National Stadium in Gaborone to celebrate his return, with the government declaring a half-day holiday at the time. Then-President Mokgweetsi Masisi described it as a “most unique… manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic.”