The country's 4x400m relay team that won silver the IAAF relays in Bahamas early 2017 was recognized as the team of the year.

Botswana's Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Thapelo Olopeng also showered praises to the country's sportsmen and women who have been doing well in the international arena.

At the end Botswana did not bring any medal from the championships, but Makwala's story went down to become the story of the championship, even bigger than the retirement of one of the sport's great, Usain Bolt.

Makwala was seen as many as a major challenger to reigning Olympic gold winner and world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk from Botswana's neighbour South Africa.

Makwala, a 30-year-old 400m specialist, went to the championship in a blazing form, with the fastest 400m time of the year.

With the 100m failing to bring any spark as Usain Bolt struggled and ultimately bowing down with a disappointing bronze, many fans expected the 400m to become one event of great interest in London.

He said it was moments like Makwala's solo run in London which makes Botswana known to millions of viewers worldwide, hence it was important to honour them.

GABORONE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- In August 2017, a crowd braved a rainy London Stadium to witness a unique and historic event in athletics, a solo 200m run.

Reikeletseng further went on to award a special recognition award to Vincent Crosbie, who in 2017 became the first ever Motswana to compete in the dreadful Dakar Rally, finishing 36th overall in the motorcycle category.

With rain pouring down, Botswana's Isaac Makwala ran alone in lane seven to beat a targeted time of 20.53 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championship.

Reikeletseng hailed Makwala and other athletes from Botswana for raising the country's flag high in the international sporting arena.

He would be back on the track to run the semi-final where he finished second to qualify for the final before going down on the track to do his trademark celebration of push ups.

The 26-year-old defied many odds raising funds to go and compete in the gruelling race where he also became only the 6th rookie to cross the finish line.

It was the only African team at the World relays as well as at the World Championships. Another 400m runner Karabo Sibanda emerged the biggest winner of the night as he was named sportsperson of the year.

Botswana, with only a population of less than three million people is a force to reckon in athletics, especially middle sprint races of 400m and 800m.

The 19-year-old was Botswana's only finalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro where he finished sixth and he is expected to become a major competitor in the 400m in the near future. International Chess Fide Master Onkemetse Francis was also named sportswoman of the year.

Every year Botswana awards athletes and officials across all sport codes for their performances in the previous year.

This was until he was barred from running the final after being diagnosed with a virus that required him to be quarantined for some time, unfortunately the 400m final came before his quarantine period elapsed, breaking the athlete's heart and hearts of many viewers at the landlocked southern African nation.

Every sports news channel, newspapers and websites were buzzing with the story of Makwala. Social networks were abuzz with 'the Makwala challenge', where people posed for pictures doing push ups.

This moment was described by the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson Solly Reikeletseng at the annual awards to honour the country's athletes this past Saturday in Gaborone.