‘I Was Just Enjoying Myself’: Kebinatshipi Delivers Record-Breaking Monaco Performance
Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi produced a remarkable performance in the men’s 400m at the Monaco Diamond League, winning the race in a new national record time of 43.44 seconds.
The impressive victory saw Kebinatshipi claim the top position while also setting new records for Botswana, the Diamond League meeting and the event record. The performance further underlined his growing status as one of the leading 400m runners in the world.
Speaking after the race, Kebinatshipi admitted he was surprised by the speed of his performance, explaining that he approached the competition with a relaxed mindset and a desire to enjoy the moment.
“I did not expect to be this fast. We are just playing around and seeing how fast we can go towards the end of the season,” Kebinatshipi said.
The Botswana athlete highlighted his connection with Monaco, recalling that it was the venue where he made his first Diamond League appearance in 2024.
“Monaco is a very good place for me. I did my first Diamond League race here in 2024, so I just wanted to come here and make my mark,” he added.
Kebinatshipi revealed that he competed without pressure, focusing instead on enjoying the race after achieving his major goals from the previous season.
“This time it was about enjoying myself. Last year, we already achieved what we wanted, so now it is only about the joy.”
The celebration that followed his victory, including his trademark push-ups at the finish line, was a tribute to both his energy and his admiration for Botswana sprint legend Isaac Makwala.
“I do these push-ups to show that I still have a lot of energy. I also do it as an appreciation to Isaac Makwala, who is my role model, my friend and my mentor. He is very close to me,” Kebinatshipi explained.
Despite his success, the 400m remains his immediate priority. The athlete said he could consider moving to the 200m in the future once he has achieved his ambitions in the longer sprint event.
“My focus now is on the 400m. Maybe in the future, when I achieve what I want in this event, we can switch to the 200m. At the moment, I do not have any plans or specific goals I want to achieve,” he said.
