For years, Botswana’s international athletics story has been dominated by its male athletes, but it was the women who first blazed the trail. As the nation prepares for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September, a pressing question remains: What happened to Botswana’s presence in women’s track and field?
A decade ago, Botswana’s flag soared on the global stage thanks to Amantle Montsho-Nkape, a trailblazer who made history and inspired a generation. On August 29, 2011, Montsho delivered one of the most iconic moments in the nation’s sporting history when she edged out American favorite Allyson Felix to win gold in the 400 meters at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. It was Botswana’s first-ever gold medal at the championships.
With a time of 49.56 seconds, Montsho held off Felix’s late surge in a race that remains etched in the memories of many Batswana. The national anthem rang out that day, and Montsho became more than just a champion — she became a symbol of possibility.
“She brought us hope and pride,” said Justice Dipeba, a long-time athletics coach and mentor to many of Botswana’s top athletes. “Montsho showed what was possible when talent met opportunity and support.”
Montsho’s rise began in 2010 when she swept gold at the African Championships, the Continental Cup, and the Commonwealth Games in the 400m. She entered the 2012 London Olympics as a favorite but narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth with a time of 49.75 seconds. She returned to form in 2013, claiming silver at the World Championships.
However, her momentum stalled in 2014 when she was suspended for two years after testing positive for methylhexaneamine following a fourth-place finish at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She returned in 2016 and competed in the 2017 World Championships, where she helped Botswana’s 4x400m relay team reach the final.
Beyond Montsho, Botswana once had a strong cohort of female 400m runners — including Christine Botlogetswe, Galefele Moroko, and Lydia Jele. Botlogetswe competed at the 2016 Olympics and represented the country at multiple World Championships. But in recent years, female participation at major athletics meets has declined sharply.
“The last time Botswana won a medal on the world stage in women’s athletics was through Montsho,” said Dipeba. “Since then, things have not been the same. There’s a clear drop, and it’s worrying.”
Today, Botswana’s hopes rest on Oratile Nowe, the national record holder in the women’s 800m. She was the country’s sole female track representative at the Paris Olympics last year and is likely to carry the flag alone again in Tokyo this September.
Nowe’s rise is notable not only for her talent but also for her consistency. Based in South Africa, she regularly competes in European meets — an advantage bolstered by sponsorship and management support.
“She has some form of sponsorship or management contract, and that’s what helps her,” said Dipeba. “That kind of support is crucial.”
He pointed out that many rising male stars, such as Collen Kebinatshipi, are also benefiting from support systems based outside Botswana. The difference, he argued, lies in the structural neglect of female athletes.
“It’s not a lack of talent,” Dipeba said. “We have to be intentional with our women athletes. Give them support, and we will see wonders.”
During Montsho’s peak, female athletes benefited from scholarships and stipends from institutions like the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC), which covered accommodation, transport, and competition costs — all essential for elite performance.
“Right now, many of the girls don’t even have places to stay in Gaborone, where the best training facilities are,” Dipeba said. “How do we expect them to compete at a world-class level without basic support?”
He suggested using existing infrastructure, such as the athletes’ village in Block 9, Gaborone, as a centralized hub for elite female athletes. “It’s not a hard thing to do. We already have the facilities. What’s lacking is will — we need to act, not just talk.”
Dipeba called for a national strategy that begins with school-level talent identification and extends to elite athlete management.
“We can identify the talent early through school sports, if it’s active. That’s good. But then what? How do we ensure they grow and stay consistent? Without sustained support, it all ends in disappointment.”
He warned that without urgent action, Botswana’s legacy in women’s athletics could fade.
“We’re hitting a dead end if we don’t change our approach,” he said.
Montsho’s legacy still looms large — not just as a winner but as a figure who redefined what it meant to be a female athlete in Botswana. Her victories were celebrated nationally; her setbacks met with empathy.
The hope now is that athletes like Nowe can usher in a new era. But she needs more than just a promise — she needs a system that supports her and others like her.
“We can’t leave it to chance anymore,” Dipeba said. “It’s time we invest properly in our women. Not just with words, but with real, tangible support. That’s how you build champions.”
As Botswana looks toward Tokyo, the dream of hearing the national anthem played once more in honor of a female athlete feels distant — but not impossible. With the right structure, investment, and belief, the nation could once again see its women rise to the top of the world.
