Kebinatshipi underlined her talent when she ran a personal best (and world-leading time) of 43.61 seconds in the semi-finals.
His compatriots Lee Bhekempilo Eppi and Bayapo Ndori also reached the 400m final, but Kebinatshipi felt comfortable knowing the attention would be on him.
“Next [in] Until the final, everyone knew that I was the favorite,” he said.
“I didn’t want to disappoint my coach. I didn’t want to change any race plan that I used in the semi-finals.
“I applied the same strategy and I knew that if I did the same thing I did in the semifinals, I would win gold.”
And, after sealing first place on the podium, Kebinatshipi celebrated with push-ups inside a soggy National Stadium to pay tribute to compatriot Isaac Makwala, who was part of the Botswana relay team that won bronze in the 4x400m at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Makwala first performed push-ups on a rainy track to demonstrate his fitness after having to compete alone in the 200m heats at the 2017 World Championships, after he was controversially denied his place in the 400m final following a norovirus outbreak in London.
“Honestly, I was really exhausted, but I kept my promise to my role model, Isaac,” Kebinatshipi said.
“I told him ‘if I win this race, I’m going to dedicate this celebration to you’ because he used to do the celebration during his time.
“What little energy I had left I used for push-ups.”