Botswana (BOT)

Botswana formed a National Olympic Committee in 1978, which was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 21 April 1980, at the meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Lausanne. Since 1980, Botswana has competed at every Olympic Games. Formerly called Bechuanaland (before independence from the United Kingdom in 1966), the country never made an Olympic appearance under that name.

In 2004, Amantle Montsho became the first Motswana female Olympian, when she was eliminated in the first round of the 400 metres. Botswana has not yet competed at the Olympic Winter Games. Through 2022, there have been 70 Botswanan Olympians, mostly in track & field athletics, but they have also been represented in boxing, judo, sailing, swimming, and weightlifting.

In 2012, Nijel Amos won the first ever medal for Botswana, with silver in the men’s 800 metres. At Tokyo 2020, Botswana won a bronze medal in the men’s 4x400 metres relay.