- Team bags 61 medals
Botswana has wrapped up an impressive campaign at the recently concluded AUSC Region 5 Youth Games in Windhoek, Namibia from July 4 to July 14, 2025. The country finished in fourth place overall on the medal table with 18 gold, 16 silver, and 27 bronze medals, totaling 61 medals across all disciplines.
The Botswana athletics team emerged as the country’s top performer, dominating the track in various categories, including Athletics (able-bodied), Athletics for the Visually Impaired (VI), and Special Olympics events, which made their debut at the AUSC Region 5 Games this year.
Botswana’s sprinting prowess was evident, with Same Mohutsiwa proving to be a standout athlete, capturing gold in both the 100m (12.25s) and 200m. She also played a pivotal role in Botswana’s 4×100m women’s relay team, which clinched silver alongside Wedu Matiwe, Game Oneile, and Oarabile Hinse. On the men’s side, Junior Phatsima dominated the 400m race with a time of 47.80s, while Junior Gabonkgope brought home silver medals in both the 200m and 400m, narrowly missing out on gold.
Wazha Matakule delivered a strong performance in the 100m sprint, taking silver with 10.79s, while Ludo Star Mbekwa secured a silver medal in the long jump with a leap of 5.15m. The men’s 4×100m relay team, composed of Lucky Chiveru, Junior Gabonkgope, Wazha Matakule, and Kopano Mpitsang, sprinted to a thrilling gold medal finish. The 4×400m relay team— Phatsima, Gabonkgope, Lebogang Mogagu, and Tsaone Dintwa—also earned silver. Meanwhile, the women’s 4×400m relay team clinched bronze, thanks to a spirited run by Same Mohutsiwa, Wedu Matiwe, Katso Orelathile, and Mitchele Sebetela.
Botswana’s commitment to inclusive sports shone brightly in the VI athletics category. Elliot Kemmonye Tomeletso (T13) and Chandapiwa Obuseng (T12) each sprinted to gold medals in the 100m of their respective categories. Tlamelo Abby Lelaka (T12) captured silver in the 400m, while Patlo Metlhaetsile (T12) earned bronze in the same event.
Making its historic debut at the AUSC Region 5 Games, the Special Olympics category brought Botswana further glory. Loago Keith Maja jumped to gold with a mark of 5.38m in the men’s long jump, while Tlamelo Mogomotsi followed with gold in the women’s category, leaping 3.81m. This inaugural inclusion of Special Olympics not only broadened the Games’ inclusivity but also allowed Botswana’s adaptive athletes to display their remarkable talent and determination.
Botswana’s final medal haul earned the nation a fourth-place finish behind regional powerhouses South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. South Africa topped the table with a staggering 64 gold medals, with a total of 142 medals across the board. Botswana’s delegation, led by dedicated coaches, managers, and support staff, received praise for their unwavering efforts and outstanding results. Their teamwork, preparation, and resilience led to one of the country’s most successful outings at the Region 5 Youth Games in recent memory.
