Collen Kebinatshipi went to Brussels, Belgium as the favourite and left as the Diamond League champion smashing three records in the process.
The 22-year-old produced another stunning performance on Friday night, winning the men’s 400m final in 43.40 seconds to claim his first Diamond Trophy.
Kebinatshipi’s time was a Botswana national record, a meeting record and a new Diamond League record. It also moved him to joint fifth on the world all-time list.
Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago finished second in a national record of 43.68, while American Jacory Patterson took third in a personal best of 43.78.
The world champion had arrived at the King Baudouin Stadium carrying the weight of expectation after winning every Diamond League race he had entered this season. He responded in the way Botswana and the athletics world have become accustomed to: by winning, and running faster than ever before.
On the eve of the final, Kebinatshipi made his target clear. “First and foremost, I want to win that Diamond League trophy here in Brussels,” he said.
Less than 24 hours later, the trophy was his.
Friday’s victory completed a perfect Diamond League campaign. Kebinatshipi won all six of his 400m appearances during the 2026 season.
He opened with 43.92 in Xiamen before running 43.54 in Paris. He followed that with 44.00 in Eugene, 43.44 in Monaco and 43.59 in Silesia. Then came the season finale in Brussels and another national record of 43.40.
Brussels also provided a fitting measure of his progress. Kebinatshipi finished seventh at the meeting in 2024 and sixth in 2025. This time, he returned as world champion and took complete control.
Kebinatshipi only took up athletics after being spotted by a coach during a football match when he was 17. Five years later, he is the world champion, a Diamond League champion and one of the fastest 400m runners in history.
The foundations were visible at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he helped Botswana win silver in the men’s 4x400m relay.
His breakthrough arrived at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Kebinatshipi won the individual 400m world title in a then national record of 43.53 before helping Botswana win the 4x400m relay world title.
Kebinatshipi has spent 2026 proving that his world title was no accident. Race after race, he has beaten some of the finest in the world. Three times this season, he has lowered the Diamond League record.
The inevitable question is how close he can move to Wayde van Niekerk’s world record of 43.03.
Kebinatshipi has refused to rush that conversation, saying before the Brussels final that consistency remains his main goal. Van Niekerk, whom he describes as his role model, has also encouraged him during his rise.
