Collen Kebinatshipi storms to 400m title in Budapest
Collen Kebinatshipi delivered on his favourite status by winning the 400m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest on 12 July. The 22-year-old Botswana athlete lowered his national record to 43.39, moving him alone into fifth on the world all-time list. He also set a new mark for most sub-44 races in a single season with six. The performance capped a dominant campaign that included three Diamond League records.
Collen Kebinatshipi storms to 400m title in Budapest — Collen Kebinatshipi storms to 400m title in Budapest
Collen Kebinatshipi delivered on his favorite status by winning the 400m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest on 12 July. The 22-year-old Botswana athlete lowered his national record to 43.39, moving him alone into fifth on the world all-time list. He also set a new mark for most sub-44 races in a single season with six. The performance capped a dominant campaign that included three Diamond League records.
Why Kebinatshipi dominated from the gun
Behind the winning time lies a clear tactical plan. After the Diamond League final, Kebinatshipi said he would attack early instead of his usual late kick. In Budapest he did exactly that, exploding out of the blocks and holding a clear lead into the final bend. The aggressive start prevented any late challenge and produced the performance of his career, just 0.01 off the world lead.
Kebinatshipi arrived in Budapest already the Diamond League champion after clocking 43.40 in Brussels. That mark followed earlier records in Paris (43.54) and Monaco (43.44). His Budapest improvement extended his hold on fifth place on the all-time list and confirmed his status as the leading 400m runner of 2026.
USA's Rai Benjamin finished second in 44.15 before switching focus to the 400m hurdles. Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards took bronze in 44.23. Both athletes had faced Kebinatshipi earlier in the season, yet neither could match his pace on this occasion.
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