Akani Simbine may not be clocking world records this season, but when it comes to crossing the finish line first, he’s been untouchable. The South African sprint star has quietly dominated the circuit, beating some of the biggest names in track and field. From Xiamen to Shanghai, Simbine has outpaced a star-studded lineup. And now, he’s added another feather to his cap. Anchoring Team South Africa to gold at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China.
For Kenny Bednarek and Team USA, the race was supposed to be a coronation. With a powerhouse lineup and momentum on their side, they were expected to dominate. Instead, they were left stunned in the final stretch as Simbine surged ahead in a breathtaking anchor leg to snatch gold from America’s grasp. Moreover, the moment marked not just a victory for South Africa but a bitter blow for a U.S. team that had looked poised to reclaim relay dominance in the 4x100m relay.
Track & Field Informant Owen took to X, writing, “AKANI SIMBINE. That’s it, that’s the post. 37.61s world lead in the 4x100m ”, and that about summed up the sentiment across social media. Simbine’s anchor leg was the knockout punch that sealed South Africa’s triumph in Guangzhou. Alongside Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, and Bradley Nkoana, the team clocked a world-leading 37.61 seconds in the final.
AKANI SIMBINE. That’s it, that’s the post.
37.61s world lead in the 4x100m #WorldRelays
@BBCSport pic.twitter.com/LuuzFfveY4
— Owen (@_OwenM_) May 11, 2025
Not just edging out the U.S., but asserting dominance in one of the most competitive relay fields of the season. While many expected a North American showdown for gold, it was Simbine and his squad who delivered a performance for the ages. Now, in 2025, he’s risen once again. This time with a world-leading 4x100m squad that silenced the doubters in Guangzhou. Simbine isn’t just winning races. He’s rewriting what resilience looks like on the global sprinting stage.
Simbine’s wins speak louder than his doubts
Despite being one of the most consistent sprinters on the planet, Akani Simbine refuses to settle. At the Shanghai Diamond League, he crossed the line in 9.98 seconds. Another win in the books, yet not quite the race he envisioned. “Another win. I’m not happy with the race, but taking the win is good,” he confessed after the race, highlighting the razor-thin line between satisfaction and dominance in his world.
Simbine’s critique of his start wasn’t a complaint. It was a glimpse into the mind of an elite athlete who’s never done growing, never done pushing. That mentality is what’s kept him relevant. For more than a decade. Simbine’s resume reads like a near-miss masterpiece. Fourth in Tokyo, narrowly off the podium in Paris by 0.01 seconds, three World Championship finals with no medal, and even his blistering 9.82 national record in Paris still wasn’t enough to land hardware.
Throw in injury setbacks, training bans during COVID, and a new generation led by Letsile Tebogo nipping at his heels. And yet, Simbine remains not just present, but unbeatable. In Xiamen, he outran the likes of Ferdinand Omanyala, Christian Coleman, and Letsile Tebogo with a smooth 9.99 seconds, once again proving that experience and composure can trump hype.
Simbine made his goals clear from the start of the season. “And for me, it’s to come here to win, come here to run well, and just start the season off well and on a high note,” he told reporters ahead of Xiamen. And he delivered on that promise with chilling precision. Even as he stood victorious in Shanghai, his mind was already on refinement, not celebration.
The message he’s sending? He’s not just here to win. He’s here to perfect the win. And if his victory in the World Relays is anything to go by, the rest of the world should take notice.
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