USA Dominates Relays as Botswana, Odira, and Olislagers Shine on Final Day of World Athletics Championships

Tokyo, Sept 2025 : The final day of the World Athletics Championships delivered a fitting climax to an electrifying week of sport, with the United States showcasing its sprinting supremacy by capturing three out of four relay gold medals. Yet, the day was not short on drama, as Botswana stunned the men’s 4x400m field, Australia’s Nicola Olislagers soared to her first world title, Kenya’s Lilian Odira broke records in the 800m, and America’s Cole Hocker sealed his dominance in distance running.

Botswana Stuns in Men’s 4x400m Relay

The biggest upset of the day came in the men’s 4x400m relay, where Botswana edged past the favored Americans in a photo finish. Clocking 2 minutes 57.76 seconds, Botswana beat the United States by a mere 0.07 seconds, with South Africa taking the bronze.

Busang Collen Kabinatshipi, who anchored the victory, said, “I had to run the most strategic stage because of the weather. I’m happy to cross the finish line first. I’m truly grateful to win two gold medals.” Teammate Letsile Tebogo, who has emerged as one of the brightest stars of the championships, added, “We came here with a dream of becoming world champions. It took a lot of courage.”

American Women Rewrite Relay History

The U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team produced a masterclass, led by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who clocked an incredible 47.82 seconds in her leg. The team won with a championship record of 3:16.61, ahead of Jamaica (3:19.25) and the Netherlands (3:20.18).

In the women’s 4x100m relay, the Americans struck gold again, finishing in 41.75 seconds, narrowly beating Jamaica (41.79). Germany claimed bronze in 41.87 seconds. For Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, it was a career-defining achievement. “It’s amazing to return home with three gold medals. I’ve once again etched my name in the history books. I’m where I want to be,” she said.

Lyles Leads U.S. to 4x100m Men’s Gold

On the men’s side, Noah Lyles anchored the 4x100m relay to gold, clocking 37.29 seconds, the best time in the world this season. Canada (37.55) took silver, while the Netherlands stormed to bronze in a national record of 37.81.

The victory reaffirmed the U.S. sprinting dominance, capping off a stellar championship for Lyles, who continues to cement his reputation as the heir to Usain Bolt’s sprinting legacy.

Olislagers Claims Long-Awaited High Jump Gold

In the field events, Australia’s Nicola Olislagers finally secured her long-awaited world high jump title, clearing 2.00m on countback. It marked a crowning moment for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic silver medalist, who has consistently been on the podium but never at the top.

Poland’s Maria Zdzik also cleared 2.00m to take silver with a personal best, while defending champion and 2024 Olympic gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine shared bronze with Serbia’s emerging star Angelina Topic, both clearing 1.97m.

Hocker Strikes Gold in the Men’s 5,000m

In distance running, America’s Cole Hocker produced a brilliant performance to win the men’s 5,000m final in 12 minutes 58.30 seconds, capturing his first World Championships gold. The 24-year-old, already the 1,500m Olympic champion from Paris 2024, said he felt in control throughout the race.

“There were many competitors in front of me, but I felt very strong, so much so that I could overtake them one by one. I ran a perfect race today,” Hocker said. “The 5,000 meters pushes me out of my comfort zone, but I want to run it again at the next Worlds. My goal was to win both the 1,500m and 5,000m, but I’m satisfied with one gold.”

Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli finished close behind in 12:58.78 for silver, while France’s Jimmy Gressier, already the 10,000m champion, claimed bronze in 12:59.33.

Odira Breaks Record in Women’s 800m

Kenya’s Lilian Odira capped off the championships with a stunning run in the women’s 800m, winning in a championship record 1:54.62. The 26-year-old surged ahead in the final 200 meters to hold off a strong field.

“The 800m is always very strategic. I had no expectations—I was just watching the pace,” Odira said. “This is my first World Championships and I am very grateful to leave as world champion.”

Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter-Bell ran a personal best 1:54.90 to win silver, while her compatriot and Olympic champion Keeley Hodgkinson settled for bronze.

A Fitting Finale

The final day of the World Athletics Championships was a perfect mix of dominance and surprises. The United States underlined its strength in sprint relays, while emerging nations like Botswana and athletes like Odira and Olislagers showed that the sport’s future is both diverse and global.

From record-breaking performances to heart-stopping finishes, the championships ended on a high, leaving fans with unforgettable memories and setting the stage for even greater drama at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Team Maverick